Hardness
Very Hard
446 PPM · 26.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Buffalo, WY 82834
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Johnson County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Buffalo, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Johnson 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
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 4,419 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
446 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
446
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
26.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 446 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
33
Nearest site
10.3 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Apr 21, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CLEAR CREEK ABOVE KUMOR DRAW, NEAR BUFFALO, WY (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 82834 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Buffalo median
446 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 446–446 PPM
Wyoming median
235 PPM
211 PPM higher93 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.2–1905 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 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
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
EPA limit 0.015
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.061
EPA limit 0.06
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 9
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.08 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.076 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.067 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.064 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Health-basedReported 0.061 MG/L · MCL 0.06 | WY5600005 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WY5600229 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 12, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | WY5600005 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WY5600258 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2015 |
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 Buffalo ZIP 82834 using 446 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
446 PPM is 4× 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
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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 Buffalo
Is tap water safe in Buffalo?+
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 446 PPM, or 26.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 446 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.