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City water profile

Ouray water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Ouray, Colorado.

Median indexed hardness

172PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 172–172 PPM

State comparison
113 PPM above
State hardness rank
#21 of 58
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Ouray has 1 published ZIP profile across Ouray County. The indexed median is 172 PPM, compared with 59 PPM across Colorado.

Among the 58 Coloradocities with an indexed median, Ouray ranks #21from highest to lowest. Across all 161 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 13.7to 829 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard1 ZIP
Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
8.2 miles
Profiles with evidence
1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 13, 2016 to Jun 2, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Ouray

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

81427

Hard

172 PPM

Nearest site
8.2 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Ouray City Of

PWSID CO0146588

Groundwater influenced by surface water
System population served
1,460
Last reported
Jun 17, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Surface Water Treatment RuleCO0146588Apr 1, 2026Archived · health-based
Surface Water Treatment RuleCO0146588Mar 1, 2026Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleCO0146588Mar 1, 2026Resolved
Public NoticeCO0146588Feb 5, 2026Resolved
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSCO0146588Jul 2, 2025Resolved
Surface Water Treatment RuleCO0146588Jul 1, 2024Resolved
cis-1,2-DichloroethyleneCO0146588Jan 1, 2024Resolved
o-DichlorobenzeneCO0146588Jan 1, 2024Resolved
DICHLOROMETHANECO0146588Jan 1, 2024Resolved
Vinyl chlorideCO0146588Jan 1, 2024Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Ouray

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 172 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.