Hardness
Very Hard
473 PPM · 27.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Lovington, NM 88260
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.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Lovington Municipal Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Lea 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
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 13,539 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
473 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
473
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
27.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 473 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
49
Nearest site
10.1 mi
Observation range
May 23, 2016–Sep 6, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 16S.34E.10.21431 512 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88260 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Lovington median
473 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 473–473 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
245 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, 2026
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
- 19
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3521813 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Aug 9, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3521813 | Resolved | Mar 26, 2023through Nov 9, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3521813 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Chlorine | NM3521813 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Apr 1, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Mar 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Mar 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Mar 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Apr 1, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Mar 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Mar 28, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Nov 11, 2022through Apr 1, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521813 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 24, 2022 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3521813 | Resolved | Aug 16, 2022through Apr 1, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3521813 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Jul 31, 2021 |
| Chlorine | NM3521813 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 25, 2021 |
| Public Notice | NM3521813 | Resolved | Feb 13, 2021through Mar 12, 2021 |
| Public Notice | NM3521813 | Resolved | Jan 29, 2021through Feb 16, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | NM3521813 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Jan 31, 2021 |
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 Lovington ZIP 88260 using 473 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
473 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 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 Lovington
Is tap water safe in Lovington?+
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 473 PPM, or 27.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 473 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.