Hardness
Very Hard
232 PPM · 13.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Placitas, NM 87043
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Sandoval County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- North Ranchos De Placitas W&sd
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Sandoval 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
0.001 mg/L
7% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 659 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
232 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
232
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
13.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 232 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
141
Nearest site
4.3 mi
Observation range
Jan 15, 2016–Jan 29, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 13N.04E.25.132 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87043 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Placitas median
232 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 232–232 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
About the same194 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, 2025
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
Arsenic
Measured in MG/L
Local 0.029
EPA limit 0.01
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 58
- Health-based
- 27
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3546223 | Unaddressed | Oct 24, 2025 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.029 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | NM3501223 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Dec 31, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3501223 | Resolved | Sep 25, 2025through Mar 17, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3500423 | Resolved | Aug 24, 2025through Aug 27, 2025 |
| E. COLI | NM3500423 | Resolved | Jul 18, 2025through Aug 21, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3509323 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 16, 2025 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.036 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | NM3501223 | Archived | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3501223 | Unaddressed | Apr 1, 2025 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.034 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | NM3501223 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3501223 | Resolved | Mar 15, 2025through Mar 11, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3546223 | Unaddressed | Jan 18, 2025 |
| ArsenicHealth-basedReported 0.033 MG/L · MCL 0.01 | NM3501223 | Archived | Jan 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500423 | Resolved | Dec 13, 2024through Jul 30, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Apr 23, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Apr 23, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through May 2, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through May 2, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Apr 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3546223 | Resolved | Dec 7, 2024through Jun 4, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3546223 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
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 Placitas ZIP 87043 using 232 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
232 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
Arsenic, 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 Placitas
Is tap water safe in Placitas?+
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 232 PPM, or 13.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 232 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.