Hardness
Very Hard
203.5 PPM · 11.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Paonia, CO 81428
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
- Hidden Valley Hoa Water Company
- 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
5 systems
Serves 120 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
203.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
203.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 203.5 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
180
Nearest site
9.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Jun 3, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: NORTH FORK GUNNISON RIVER NEAR SOMERSET, CO. (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 81428 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Paonia median
204 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 203.5–203.5 PPM
Colorado median
59 PPM
145 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
- 52
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | CO0115513 | Unaddressed | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts RuleHealth-based | CO0115342 | Resolved | Jul 9, 2024through Aug 8, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115342 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Aug 19, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0115342 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0115342 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | CO0115342 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Nov 20, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115342 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Aug 19, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115513 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 15, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115838 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 15, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115716 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 15, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | CO0115841 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jun 15, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0115841 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | CO0115841 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Jun 7, 2023 |
| TTHM | CO0115342 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | CO0115342 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0115513 | Resolved | Dec 27, 2022through Dec 28, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0115838 | Resolved | Dec 27, 2022through Dec 28, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0115716 | Resolved | Dec 27, 2022through Dec 28, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0115841 | Resolved | Dec 27, 2022through Dec 28, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0115342 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2022through Sep 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 Paonia ZIP 81428 using 203.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
203.5 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 Paonia
Is tap water safe in Paonia?+
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 203.5 PPM, or 11.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 203.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.