Hardness
Very Hard
370.5 PPM · 21.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Alamogordo, NM 88310
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Otero County.
3 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Alamogordo Domestic Water System
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Otero County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
3 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
8 systems
Serves 35,301 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
370.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
370.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
21.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 370.5 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
10
Nearest site
45.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 20, 2016–Mar 19, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: RIO RUIDOSO AT RUIDOSO, NM (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88310 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Alamogordo median
371 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 370.5–370.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
143 PPM higher194 indexed ZIP readings · Range 74.2–688.5 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)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 63
- Health-based
- 19
- Active health-based
- 3
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3550019 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3568919 | Unaddressed | Feb 21, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Chlorine | NM3563319 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3568919 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Aug 17, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3564019 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Aug 19, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3568919 | Unaddressed | May 3, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3568919 | Resolved | May 3, 2025through Jun 18, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3568919 | Resolved | Feb 5, 2025through Apr 28, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3568919 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3568919 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3563319 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3563319 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3564019 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Nov 7, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3563319 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3562819 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Jun 12, 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 Alamogordo ZIP 88310 using 370.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
370.5 PPM is 3× 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Groundwater Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate 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 Alamogordo
Is tap water safe in Alamogordo?+
EPA ECHO reports 3 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 370.5 PPM, or 21.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 370.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.