Hardness
Hard
125.5 PPM · 7.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Chama, NM 87520
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Rio Arriba County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Chama Water System
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Rio Arriba 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
5.9e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,573 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
125.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
125.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
7.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 125.5 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
40
Nearest site
45.6 mi
Observation range
Feb 16, 2016–May 15, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: RIO CHAMA BELOW ABIQUIU DAM, NM (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87520 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Chama median
126 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 125.5–125.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
102 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
5.9e-4 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 5.9e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 40
- Health-based
- 10
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3501021 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3503821 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Unaddressed | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Unaddressed | Jul 19, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Resolved | Apr 13, 2024through Jul 7, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3501021 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through May 13, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | NM3501021 | Addressed | Aug 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Addressed | Aug 19, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3503821 | Resolved | Aug 12, 2023through Apr 1, 2024 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | NM3501021 | Addressed | Jul 2, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | NM3501021 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NM3501021 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NM3501021 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | NM3501021 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Resolved | May 23, 2023through May 23, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NM3501021 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NM3501021 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through May 31, 2023 |
| TTHM | NM3501021 | Resolved | May 1, 2023through Jul 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3501021 | Resolved | Apr 14, 2023through Mar 24, 2023 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | NM3501021 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Apr 30, 2023 |
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 Chama ZIP 87520 using 125.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
125.5 PPM is 1× 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 Chama
Is tap water safe in Chama?+
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 125.5 PPM, or 7.3 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 125.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.