Hardness
Very Hard
189 PPM · 11.1 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Questa, NM 87556
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Taos County.
9 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Questa Water System
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Taos County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
9 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0026 mg/L
17% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 2,337 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
189 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
189
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.1
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 189 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
21
Nearest site
5 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: 30N.12E.01.1414 AR-1 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87556 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Questa median
189 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 189–189 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
39 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0026 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
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 0.0026
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 43
- Health-based
- 10
- Active health-based
- 9
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3506829 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3501129 | Unaddressed | Aug 17, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Aug 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 16, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 16, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3501129 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 3, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3500329 | Unaddressed | Apr 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3500329 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3500329 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3506829 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Apr 2, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500329 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Nov 26, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3506829 | Unaddressed | Aug 3, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3506829 | Unaddressed | Aug 3, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500329 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 4, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500329 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Nov 26, 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 Questa ZIP 87556 using 189 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
189 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
Groundwater Rule, 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 Questa
Is tap water safe in Questa?+
EPA ECHO reports 9 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 189 PPM, or 11.1 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 189 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.