Hardness
Very Hard
675 PPM · 39.5 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Raton, NM 87740
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Colfax County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- City Of Raton/raton Water Works
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Colfax 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
3.0e-4 mg/L
2% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 9,733 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
675 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
675
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
39.5
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 675 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
5
Nearest site
38.1 mi
Observation range
Mar 22, 2016–Jun 8, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CIMARRON RIVER NEAR CIMARRON, NM (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87740 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Raton median
675 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 675–675 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
447 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 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
3.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2020
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 3.0e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.4
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 23
- Health-based
- 6
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500404 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Jul 23, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3500404 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 25, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3500404 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Nov 25, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500404 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Oct 28, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500404 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 25, 2024 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Aug 7, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3500404 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Jul 21, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3550504 | Resolved | Feb 5, 2023through Jul 27, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2023through Aug 7, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Oct 25, 2024 |
| Chlorine | NM3550504 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through Dec 31, 2022 |
| CARBON, TOTALHealth-basedReported 0.96 RATIO | NM3526704 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTALHealth-basedReported 0.98 RATIO | NM3526704 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTALHealth-basedReported 0.95 RATIO | NM3526704 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTALHealth-basedReported 0.93 RATIO | NM3526704 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| CARBON, TOTALHealth-basedReported 0.91 RATIO | NM3526704 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3550504 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 11, 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 Raton ZIP 87740 using 675 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
675 PPM is 6× 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) has 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 Raton
Is tap water safe in Raton?+
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 675 PPM, or 39.5 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 675 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.