Hardness
Moderately Hard
110 PPM · 6.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Albuquerque, NM 87109
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Bernalillo County.
17 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Albuquerque Water System
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Bernalillo County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
17 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0023 mg/L
15% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 560,326 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
110 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
110
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
6.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 110 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
15
Nearest site
5 mi
Observation range
Jan 25, 2016–Mar 30, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: RIO GRANDE AT ALAMEDA BRIDGE AT ALAMEDA, NM (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87109 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Albuquerque median
99 PPM
11 PPM higher14 indexed ZIP readings · Range 95–110 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
118 PPM lower194 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0023 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
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
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.058
EPA limit 0.01
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 255
- Health-based
- 51
- Active health-based
- 17
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3549801 | Unaddressed | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3531001 | Unaddressed | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3575501 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3550001 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3520001 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3548801 | Unaddressed | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3548801 | Unaddressed | Feb 7, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3547501 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3547501 | Unaddressed | Jan 8, 2026 |
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 Albuquerque ZIP 87109 using 110 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Arsenic, Groundwater Rule 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Albuquerque
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Albuquerque
Is tap water safe in Albuquerque?+
EPA ECHO reports 17 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 110 PPM, or 6.4 grains per gallon, classified as moderately hard. 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.