Hardness
Hard
172 PPM · 10.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ouray, CO 81427
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Ouray County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Ouray City Of
- Source water
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- County
- Ouray 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
0.0013 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,460 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
172 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
172
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 172 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
128
Nearest site
8.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 13, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CEMENT CREEK ABOVE MOGUL MINE DRAINAGE, CO (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 81427 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ouray median
172 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 172–172 PPM
Colorado median
59 PPM
113 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)
0.0013 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 0.0013
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 37
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | CO0146588 | Archived | Apr 1, 2026through Apr 30, 2026 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0146588 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0146588 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Public Notice | CO0146588 | Resolved | Feb 5, 2026through Mar 2, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Jul 9, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Jul 31, 2024 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Vinyl chloride | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Trichloroethylene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Benzene | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Xylenes, Total | CO0146588 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
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 Ouray ZIP 81427 using 172 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
172 PPM is 1× 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 Ouray
Is tap water safe in Ouray?+
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 172 PPM, or 10.1 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 172 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.