Hardness
Very Hard
218.5 PPM · 12.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Colorado Springs, CO 80831
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for El Paso County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Canterbury Park
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- El Paso 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
7 systems
Serves 1,240 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
218.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
218.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
12.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 218.5 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
52
Nearest site
4.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–May 20, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK NEAR EASTONVILLE, CO (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 80831 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Colorado Springs median
206 PPM
13 PPM higher25 indexed ZIP readings · Range 108–218.5 PPM
Colorado median
59 PPM
160 PPM higher161 indexed ZIP readings · Range 13.7–829 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 19
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121251 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121167 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 10, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121488 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121168 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 10, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 26, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | CO0121718 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Jul 26, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0121167 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 20, 2025 |
| Chlorine | CO0121167 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 20, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0121718 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 15, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Apr 6, 2025 |
| TTHM | CO0121710 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | CO0121710 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Apr 6, 2025 |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Jul 11, 2024through Oct 16, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Jul 11, 2024through Sep 22, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0121251 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Dec 10, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0121710 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0121710 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | CO0121710 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2022through Jun 30, 2022 |
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 Colorado Springs ZIP 80831 using 218.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
218.5 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 systemsAffiliate 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Colorado Springs
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Colorado Springs
Is tap water safe in Colorado Springs?+
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 218.5 PPM, or 12.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 218.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.