Water Hardness in Colorado Cities

Water Hardness in Colorado Cities

Water hardness, which reflects the concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium in water, can exhibit significant variability across the diverse state of Colorado. Located in the western part of the U.S., Colorado is characterized by a vast array of water hardness levels, a testament to its intricate geological makeup.

In Colorado, water hardness can vary from very soft in certain regions to extremely hard in others, mirroring the state’s multifaceted geology and water source origins. For instance, areas with mountainous terrain and runoff from snowmelt tend to have softer water because the water has less contact with mineral-rich soils and rock formations. Conversely, regions with sedimentary rock formations, such as areas of the Eastern Plains, might have harder water due to the dissolution of minerals like calcium and magnesium into the local water supply.

The disparity in water hardness across Colorado influences not only the taste of the water but also impacts the efficacy of soaps and detergents. Moreover, it has consequences for the upkeep of plumbing systems and household appliances. Owing to Colorado’s size and geological complexity, the levels of water hardness are far from uniform and may shift, highlighting the necessity for community-specific water treatment strategies and ongoing monitoring.

The data provided demonstrates a range of water hardness levels across various cities in Colorado, measured in Parts Per Million (ppm) and Grains Per Gallon (gpg). Cities like Westminster and Northglenn exhibit relatively high water hardness levels, hitting up to 123.0 ppm, 7.19 gpg. Whereas, locales such as Fort Collins, Longmont, and Severance report notably soft water, with measurements as low as 20.0 ppm, 1.17 gpg. Meanwhile, there is a significant gap in water hardness data for numerous cities, including Pueblo, Centennial, Boulder, and many more, since no up-to-date figures are currently available for these areas.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Denver 80.0 4.7 Link Not in CCR but IS on Denver water webpage (linked). Took median of range.
Colorado Springs 37.5 2.2 Link 2016 Report.
Aurora 122.0 7.1 Link
Fort Collins 20.9 1.2 Link
Lakewood 80.0 4.7 Link Sources primarily, although not entirely from Denver.
Thornton 20.9 1.2 Link Uses Ft. Collins Water.
Arvada 54.0 3.2 Link Took median of both sources.
Westminster 123.0 7.0 Link
Pueblo n/a n/a Link
Greeley 23.5 1.4 Link Uses combination of Ft. Collins and Loveland Water so took median of those values.
Centennial n/a n/a Link
Boulder n/a n/a Link
Longmont 20.0 1.2 Link
Loveland 26.0 1.5 Link
Castle Rock 103.0 6.0 Link
Broomfield 78.0 4.6 Link
Grand Junction n/a n/a Link
Commerce City 80.0 4.7 Link Purchases from South Adams County which purchases from Denver (https://www.southadamswaterco.gov/water___wastewater/water_quality.php)
Parker n/a n/a Link
Littleton 80.0 4.7 Link Gets water from Denver.
Brighton n/a n/a Link
Northglenn 120.0 7.0 Link
Windsor 20.9 1.2 Link 70% sourced from Ft. Collins, used that number.
Englewood n/a n/a Link Report mentions they adjust hardness but don’t provide specific ppm number.
Wheat Ridge 80.0 4.7 Link Gets water from Denver.
Erie n/a n/a Link
Lafayette n/a n/a Link
Fountain n/a n/a Link
Evans 20.9 1.2 Link Purchases water from Greeley.
Louisville n/a n/a Link
Montrose n/a n/a Link
Golden 114.0 6.7 Link
Durango n/a n/a Link
Johnstown n/a n/a Link
Cañon City n/a n/a Link
Firestone 29.7 1.7 Link
Frederick n/a n/a Link
Greenwood Village 80.0 4.7 Link Sources water from Denver.
Lone Tree 80.0 4.7 Link Sources from Denver Southgate Facility (https://cityoflonetree.com/city-partners/utility-information/).
Federal Heights 123.0 7.2 Link
Sterling n/a n/a Link
Fruita 76.0 4.4 Link Covered by Ute County Water (https://www.fruita.org/publicworks/page/other-utility-providers).
Steamboat Springs n/a n/a Link
Superior n/a n/a Link
Castle Pines n/a n/a Link
Wellington n/a n/a Link
Berthoud n/a n/a Link
Fort Morgan n/a n/a Link
Monument n/a n/a Link
Rifle n/a n/a Link
Glenwood Springs n/a n/a Link
Alamosa n/a n/a Link
Severance 20.9 1.2 Link Purchases water from Ft. Collins.
Delta n/a n/a Link
Craig n/a n/a Link
Cortez n/a n/a Link
Milliken 29.7 1.7 Link
Gypsum n/a n/a Link
Trinidad n/a n/a Link Water CCR on town website appears to be incomplete document.
Fort Lupton n/a n/a Link
Lochbuie n/a n/a Link
Woodland Park n/a n/a Link
Timnath n/a n/a Link
Lamar n/a n/a Link
Eagle n/a n/a Link
La Junta n/a n/a Link
Aspen n/a n/a Link
Gunnison n/a n/a Link
Carbondale n/a n/a Link
Dacono 29.7 1.7 Link
Cherry Hills Village 80.0 4.7 Link Serviced by Denver.
Avon n/a n/a Link Sources water from Eagle River.
Sheridan 80.0 4.7 Link Serviced by Denver per linked document.
Estes Park 16.0 0.9 Link
Eaton n/a n/a Link
Salida n/a n/a Link
Mead n/a n/a Link Provided by Little Thompson Water District (https://www.townofmead.org/utilitybilling/page/water-service) and Long’s Peak (https://www.townofmead.org/utilitybilling/page/water-service) neither of which reports hardness.
Brush n/a n/a Link
Breckenridge 80.0 4.7 Link
Edgewater 80.0 4.7 Link Purchases water from Denver.
New Castle n/a n/a Link
Manitou Springs n/a n/a Link
Vail n/a n/a Link Sources water from Eagle River water district.
Silverthorne n/a n/a Link
Glendale 80.0 4.7 Link Sources water from Denver.
Monte Vista n/a n/a Link
Basalt n/a n/a Link
Florence n/a n/a Link
Rocky Ford n/a n/a Link No online resource for their water, just an email for the Utilities director.
Silt n/a n/a Link
Yuma n/a n/a Link
Bennett n/a n/a Link
Orchard City n/a n/a Link
Burlington 38.0 2.2 Link As Calcium.
Snowmass Village 80.0 4.7 Link
Walsenburg n/a n/a Link
Buena Vista n/a n/a Link
Platteville 29.7 1.7 Link
Frisco n/a n/a Link
Bayfield n/a n/a Link
Top 100 Colorado cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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