Hardness
Hard
176 PPM · 10.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in La Madera, NM 87539
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.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- La Madera Mdwca
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Rio Arriba 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
0.0055 mg/L
37% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 124 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
176 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
176
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 176 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
37
Nearest site
22.3 mi
Observation range
Oct 25, 2016–Apr 22, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 25N.13E.17.323 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87539 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
La Madera median
176 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 176–176 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
52 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0055 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
Copper (CU90)
1.5 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2016
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0055
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.5
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 16
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3504121 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 3, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3504121 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 3, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3504121 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Apr 25, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Aug 2, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3504121 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Apr 21, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3504121 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Apr 25, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3504121 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Apr 15, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3504121 | Unaddressed | Jan 18, 2018 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Aug 3, 2013 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Aug 3, 2013 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Oct 14, 2012 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Feb 11, 2012 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Jan 20, 2012 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Jan 11, 2012 |
| Public Notice | NM3502121 | Unaddressed | Dec 2, 2011 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3502121 | Addressed | Oct 19, 1999 |
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 La Madera ZIP 87539 using 176 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
176 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 systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for La Madera
Is tap water safe in La Madera?+
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 176 PPM, or 10.3 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 176 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.