Hardness
Very Hard
387.5 PPM · 22.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Las Cruces, NM 88012
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Doña Ana County.
2 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Las Cruces Municipal Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Doña Ana County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
2 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 98,175 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
4.1 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: 20S.02E.28.33 Jornda Range South Well (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88012 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Las Cruces median
388 PPM
About the same5 indexed ZIP readings · Range 318–453 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2026
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Vinyl chloride
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.036
EPA limit 0.002
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 52
- Health-based
- 15
- Active health-based
- 2
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3539607 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3539607 | Unaddressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Vinyl chlorideHealth-basedReported 0.036 MG/L · MCL 0.002 | NM3541707 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | NM3511707 | Resolved | Nov 8, 2025through Dec 5, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3577407 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 7, 2025 |
| Vinyl chlorideHealth-basedReported 0.038 MG/L · MCL 0.002 | NM3541707 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3510207 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3539607 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3513307 | Unaddressed | Mar 29, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | NM3513307 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3540007 | Resolved | Dec 18, 2024through Mar 24, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3539307 | Resolved | Nov 20, 2024through May 5, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3539607 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3539607 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3539307 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 9, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3539307 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jun 9, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3510207 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Apr 11, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3510207 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Apr 11, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3539607 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3539607 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Mar 12, 2025 |
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 Las Cruces ZIP 88012 using 387.5 PPM nearby hardness and 2 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
Vinyl chloride, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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 Las Cruces
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Las Cruces
Is tap water safe in Las Cruces?+
EPA ECHO reports 2 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 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.