Hardness
Soft
44.4 PPM · 2.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Thornton, CO 80602
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Adams County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Thornton City Of
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Adams 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
0.0023 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
7 systems
Serves 226,465 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
44.4 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
44.4
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 44.4 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
148
Nearest site
16.2 mi
Observation range
Jan 5, 2016–Jun 2, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CHERRY CREEK AT DENVER, CO. (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 80602 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Thornton median
47 PPM
About the same5 indexed ZIP readings · Range 44.4–50.2 PPM
Colorado median
59 PPM
15 PPM lower161 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)
0.0023 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 0.0023
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 49
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101741 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2026through Apr 16, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101078 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 2, 2025 |
| Chloramine | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Feb 26, 2024 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0101150 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2023through Nov 30, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0101150 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Nov 6, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0101150 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101150 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Dec 29, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 8, 2024 |
| TTHM | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Jul 8, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0101320 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022through Nov 27, 2022 |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | CO0101320 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022through Nov 27, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | CO0101126 | Resolved | Oct 11, 2022through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | CO0101320 | Resolved | Sep 9, 2022through Oct 8, 2022 |
| Public Notice | CO0101126 | Resolved | Sep 9, 2022through Nov 1, 2022 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | CO0101320 | 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 Thornton ZIP 80602 using 44.4 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate 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 Thornton
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Thornton
Is tap water safe in Thornton?+
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 44.4 PPM, or 2.6 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.