Hardness
Very Hard
582.5 PPM · 34.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Carlsbad, NM 88220
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Eddy County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Carlsbad Municipal Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Eddy County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.003 mg/L
20% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 33,626 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
582.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
582.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
34.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 582.5 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
14
Nearest site
11.3 mi
Observation range
Oct 28, 2020–Jun 30, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 22S.26E.03.232 Well 1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88220 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Carlsbad median
583 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 582.5–582.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
355 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)
0.003 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
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 0.003
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 52
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| E. COLI | NM3521308 | Unaddressed | Dec 20, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521308 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521308 | Resolved | Aug 21, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521308 | Unaddressed | Jun 11, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3521308 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3521308 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3520608 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 6, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3521308 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3521308 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521308 | Unaddressed | Feb 21, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521308 | Resolved | Feb 7, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521308 | Resolved | Oct 20, 2024through Jun 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521308 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3520708 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
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 Carlsbad ZIP 88220 using 582.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
582.5 PPM is 5× 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
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS has 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 Carlsbad
Is tap water safe in Carlsbad?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation 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 582.5 PPM, or 34.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 582.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.