Hardness
Very Hard
438 PPM · 25.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Capitan, NM 88316
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lincoln County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Capitan Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Lincoln 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
0.0042 mg/L
28% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,821 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
438 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
438
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
25.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 438 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
77
Nearest site
17.5 mi
Observation range
Jul 3, 2016–Sep 19, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 09S.15E.08.422 EAST PASTURE WELL (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88316 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Capitan median
438 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 438–438 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
210 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)
0.0042 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
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 0.0042
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 10
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3533914 | Resolved | Aug 21, 2025through Nov 7, 2025 |
| TTHM | NM3533914 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NM3533914 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3533914 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Oct 5, 2022 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3512514 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Oct 31, 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | NM3533914 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| TTHM | NM3533914 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3533914 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Sep 15, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3533914 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 23, 2021 |
| Chlorine | NM3533914 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 1, 2021 |
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 Capitan ZIP 88316 using 438 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
438 PPM is 4× 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 Capitan
Is tap water safe in Capitan?+
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 438 PPM, or 25.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 438 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.