Hardness
Very Hard
387.5 PPM · 22.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Chaparral, NM 88081
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Otero County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Lake Section Water Company
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Otero 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 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 14,619 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
387.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
387.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
22.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 387.5 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
140
Nearest site
6.4 mi
Observation range
Apr 4, 2016–Sep 14, 2022
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 24S.05E.36.131 HBNM-4, F-6 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88081 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Chaparral median
388 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 387.5–387.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
160 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 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
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
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3529207 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 27, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3529207 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Oct 27, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3500507 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 28, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3500507 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 28, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3529207 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Oct 3, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3500507 | Resolved | Apr 23, 2023through May 2, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3510707 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2022through Nov 30, 2022 |
| Chlorine | NM3510707 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 5, 2022 |
| Public Notice | NM3500507 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2017 |
| Public Notice | NM3500507 | Unaddressed | Oct 28, 2016 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500507 | Unaddressed | Mar 22, 2016 |
| Public Notice | NM3500507 | Unaddressed | Apr 4, 2012 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3500507 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2010 |
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 Chaparral ZIP 88081 using 387.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
387.5 PPM is 3× 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
Groundwater Rule 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 Chaparral
Is tap water safe in Chaparral?+
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 387.5 PPM, or 22.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 387.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.