Hardness
Hard
136 PPM · 8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Tierra Amarilla, NM 87575
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.
7 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Tierra Amarilla 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
7 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0028 mg/L
19% of action level
Utility match
2 systems
Serves 470 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
136 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
136
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 136 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
12
Nearest site
8.8 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: 27N.04E.13.411A (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 87575 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Tierra Amarilla median
136 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 136–136 PPM
New Mexico median
228 PPM
92 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)
0.0028 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
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 0.0028
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 26
- Health-based
- 9
- Active health-based
- 7
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3501821 | Unaddressed | Jan 3, 2026 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503321 | Unaddressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3501821 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2025through Mar 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3501821 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3501821 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NM3501821 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3501821 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Jan 31, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NM3503321 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2024through Nov 30, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | NM3503321 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | NM3503321 | Addressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503321 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2024through Jan 15, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503321 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Nov 5, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503321 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Jan 15, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NM3503321 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Aug 8, 2023 |
| Groundwater RuleHealth-based | NM3503321 | Resolved | Apr 27, 2023through Feb 9, 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 Tierra Amarilla ZIP 87575 using 136 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
136 PPM is 1× 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 Tierra Amarilla
Is tap water safe in Tierra Amarilla?+
EPA ECHO reports 7 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 136 PPM, or 8 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 136 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.