Hardness
Very Hard
437 PPM · 25.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Malaga, NM 88263
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Eddy County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Malaga Mdwc Swa
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Eddy 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 868 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
437 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
437
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
25.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 437 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
12
Nearest site
13.7 mi
Observation range
Jul 21, 2016–Jun 30, 2025
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 23S.27E.23.114 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 88263 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Malaga median
437 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 437–437 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
209 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)
0.001 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2027
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 0.001
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 20
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Aug 16, 2024through Mar 3, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Aug 7, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jul 10, 2024through Oct 22, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Oct 21, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Nov 12, 2023through Jan 12, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | NM3521208 | Resolved | Sep 26, 2023through Jan 10, 2024 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Sep 14, 2023through Oct 14, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jul 29, 2023through Aug 24, 2023 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Feb 18, 2023through Jul 18, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3521208 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Sep 28, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2022through Feb 15, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Nov 18, 2021 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Mar 20, 2021through Apr 19, 2021 |
| Public Notice | NM3521208 | Resolved | Jan 29, 2021through Feb 16, 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 Malaga ZIP 88263 using 437 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
437 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 Malaga
Is tap water safe in Malaga?+
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 437 PPM, or 25.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 437 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.