Hardness
Very Hard
191 PPM · 11.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Sheldon, WI 54766
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Taylor County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Sheldon Water Utility
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Taylor County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0029 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 265 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
191 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
191
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 191 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
2
Nearest site
68.3 mi
Observation range
Aug 1, 2018–Aug 22, 2018
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: PDCT-U8 031N15W17DA 01 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 54766 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Sheldon median
191 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 191–191 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
97 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)
0.0029 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.6 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 1998
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0029
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.6
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 29
- Health-based
- 4
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | WI8550278 | Unaddressed | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8550278 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Jul 18, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Oct 23, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8550278 | Resolved | May 1, 2025through May 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| TTHM | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8550278 | Resolved | Sep 21, 2024through Oct 22, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | WI8550278 | Resolved | Sep 21, 2024through Oct 13, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Public Notice | WI8550278 | Resolved | Mar 21, 2024through Jul 16, 2024 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | WI8550278 | Resolved | Nov 2, 2023through Apr 2, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI8550278 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHM | WI8550278 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| TTHM | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI8550278 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 31, 2023 |
| Nitrate | WI8550278 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
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 Sheldon ZIP 54766 using 191 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
191 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), Groundwater Rule have 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 Sheldon
Is tap water safe in Sheldon?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 191 PPM, or 11.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 191 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.