Hardness
Very Hard
482 PPM · 28.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Hobbs, NM 88244
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Lea County.
3 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Hobbs Municipal Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Lea County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
3 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0032 mg/L
21% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 40,418 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
482 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
482
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
28.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 482 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
46
Nearest site
13.5 mi
Observation range
May 31, 2016–Sep 6, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: KD-26-24-6xx (QW) (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88244 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Hobbs median
473 PPM
9 PPM higher2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 464.5–482 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
254 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)
0.0032 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 0.0032
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 45
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 3
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3557713 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3557513 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 11, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3557513 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Mar 11, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | May 12, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3557713 | Unaddressed | May 12, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3557713 | Resolved | May 12, 2024through Jun 29, 2024 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Feb 15, 2024through Mar 12, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3557713 | Resolved | Jan 21, 2024through Feb 28, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NM3557713 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Feb 21, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jun 27, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3557713 | Resolved | Dec 31, 2023through Feb 28, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3557713 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3557713 | Resolved | Nov 5, 2023through Feb 28, 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 Hobbs ZIP 88244 using 482 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
482 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, 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.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Hobbs
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Hobbs
Is tap water safe in Hobbs?+
EPA ECHO reports 3 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 482 PPM, or 28.2 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 482 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.