Hardness
Very Hard
288.5 PPM · 16.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Delta, CO 81416
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Delta County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Delta City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Delta 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
0.006 mg/L
40% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 8,700 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
288.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
288.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
16.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 288.5 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
126
Nearest site
8.1 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–Jun 5, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: GUNNISON RIVER AB ESCALANTE CREEK, NEAR DELTA (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 81416 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Delta median
289 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 288.5–288.5 PPM
Colorado median
59 PPM
230 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)
0.006 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1999
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 0.006
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 2
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | CO0115205 | Resolved | Oct 7, 2025through Nov 25, 2025 |
| Public Notice | CO0115205 | Resolved | Apr 9, 2024through May 14, 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 Delta ZIP 81416 using 288.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
288.5 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Delta
Is tap water safe in Delta?+
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 288.5 PPM, or 16.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 288.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.