Hardness
Very Hard
225 PPM · 13.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Rice Lake, WI 54868
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Barron County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Rice Lake Waterworks
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Barron County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
9.9e-4 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 9,012 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
225 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
225
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 225 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
13
Nearest site
33.5 mi
Observation range
Jul 11, 2018–Aug 30, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: PDCT-U4 033N16W16BA 01 HQ 47 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 54868 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Rice Lake median
225 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 225–225 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
63 PPM lower556 indexed ZIP readings · Range 41.3–467 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
9.9e-4 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.44 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 1993
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 9.9e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.44
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 28
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Unaddressed | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Nov 16, 2025through Dec 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Resolved | Nov 16, 2025through Feb 25, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | WI6030140 | Resolved | Nov 16, 2025through Dec 19, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| E. COLI | WI6030140 | Resolved | Oct 8, 2025through Oct 13, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Unaddressed | Sep 10, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | WI6030140 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 21, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 21, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6030140 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Nitrate | WI6030140 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | WI6030140 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 29, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | WI6030140 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 29, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Dec 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI6030140 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 19, 2025 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Rice Lake ZIP 54868 using 225 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
225 PPM is 2× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Rice Lake
Is tap water safe in Rice Lake?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 225 PPM, or 13.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 225 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.