Hardness
Very Hard
182.5 PPM · 10.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Ojo Caliente, NM 87549
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
- Ojo Caliente 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
0.005 mg/L
33% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 226 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
182.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
182.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
10.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 182.5 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
38
Nearest site
22.7 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 87549 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Ojo Caliente median
183 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 182.5–182.5 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
45 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 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.005 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.8 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2013
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.005
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.8
EPA limit 1.3
Combined Uranium
Measured in UG/L
Local 36
EPA limit 30
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 15
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3503221 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503221 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 16, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3506621 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3506621 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3503221 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 17, 2026 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3503221 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Feb 17, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3503221 | Resolved | Oct 3, 2024through Mar 27, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3503221 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3506621 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Combined UraniumHealth-basedReported 36 UG/L · MCL 30 | NM3506621 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Mar 31, 2023 |
| Combined UraniumHealth-basedReported 43 UG/L · MCL 30 | NM3506621 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503221 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Mar 16, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3503221 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Jul 8, 2023 |
| Combined UraniumHealth-basedReported 46 UG/L · MCL 30 | NM3506621 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through Sep 30, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3506621 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 28, 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 Ojo Caliente ZIP 87549 using 182.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
182.5 PPM is 2× 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), Combined Uranium, 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Ojo Caliente
Is tap water safe in Ojo Caliente?+
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 182.5 PPM, or 10.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 182.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.