Hardness
Very Hard
203 PPM · 11.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Thoreau, NM 87323
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Mckinley County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Thoreau Water & Sanitation District
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Mckinley 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
0.0043 mg/L
29% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 1,173 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
203 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
203
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
11.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 203 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
45
Nearest site
16.2 mi
Observation range
Jun 10, 2016–Apr 26, 2021
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 12N.11W.09.424 8 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87323 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Thoreau median
203 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 203–203 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
25 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)
0.0043 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 0.0043
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 13
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | NM3508817 | Unaddressed | Feb 28, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NM3508817 | Unaddressed | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3508817 | Unaddressed | Aug 28, 2025 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 23, 2024through Dec 20, 2024 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 23, 2024through Mar 13, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 25, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through Jul 25, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through May 13, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Mar 1, 2025 |
| Groundwater Rule | NM3508817 | Resolved | Jul 28, 2024through Mar 13, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3508817 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2022through May 13, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3508817 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2022through May 27, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NM3510333 | Resolved | Oct 24, 2021through Aug 31, 2022 |
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 Thoreau ZIP 87323 using 203 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
203 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 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 Thoreau
Is tap water safe in Thoreau?+
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 203 PPM, or 11.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 203 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.