Hardness
Very Hard
242.5 PPM · 14.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Belen, NM 87002
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Valencia County.
19 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Belen Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Valencia County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
19 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 10,830 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
242.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
242.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 242.5 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
132
Nearest site
3 mi
Observation range
Jan 15, 2016–Sep 4, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 05N.02E.BELEN GRANT (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87002 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Belen median
243 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 242.5–242.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
15 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2026
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
EPA limit 0.015
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.026
EPA limit 0.01
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 326
- Health-based
- 42
- Active health-based
- 19
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3500432 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Dec 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Nov 27, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3524932 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500432 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3500432 | Archived | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3500432 | Addressed | Aug 28, 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 Belen ZIP 87002 using 242.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
242.5 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 systemsDrinking 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Belen
Is tap water safe in Belen?+
EPA ECHO reports 19 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 242.5 PPM, or 14.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 242.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.