Hard water is a serious issue throughout the United States. As much as 85 percent of the nation’s households have a level ranging from slightly to extremely hard.
We often hear customers ask “what is the water hardness in my area?” Determining this data in your area can be a daunting task. Each state has a chart that can assist in finding your cities’ specific measurement. For info by zip code, please contact your local water authority. Here’s a list of Average Water Hardness in major cities in New Mexico and Arizona:
NEW MEXICO
* Santa Fe = 150 PPM
Alamagordo = 395 PPM
Albuquerque = 120 PPM
Artesia = 380 PPM
Belen = 302 PPM
Bernalillo = 319 PPM
Carlsbad = 370 PPM
Clovis = 262 PPM
Deming = 320 PPM
Edgewood = 232 PPM
Espanola = 320 PPM
Gallup = 232 PPM
Grants = 337 PPM
Hobbs = 344 PPM
Las Cruces = 140 PPM
Los Alamos = 165 PPM
Los Lunas = 219 PPM
Lovington = 290 PPM
Portales = 380 PPM
Rio Rancho = 150 PPM
Roswell = 410 PPM
Silver City = 218 PPM
ARIZONA
* Phoenix = 230 PPM
Bullhead City = 619 PPM
Chandler = 292 PPM
Flagstaff = 244 PPM
Gilbert = 165 PPM
Holbrook = 292 PPM
Lake Havasu = 325 PPM
Nogales = 340 PPM
Page = 230 PPM
Scottsdale = 432 PPM
Sierra Vista = 140 PPM
Surprise = 48 PPM
Tempe = 210 PPM
Tucson = 211 PPM
Yuma = 370 PPM
* State Capitol
PPM = Parts per Million
What is Water Hardness?
When it rains, the water that hits the ground does not contain any minerals, but it does have varying levels of acidic atmospheric pollution. As the acidic water comes in contact with different rock formations, it begins to slowly dissolve minerals such as Calcium Carbonate, which is found in limestone. As the mineral content in the water increases, the water is considered “harder”.
The longer water is exposed to a certain stone, the harder it will be. For example, water from an underground aquifer will be harder than water from a river or lake. Levels are depicted in milligrams per liter (mg/L), parts per million (PPM) or grains per gallon (gpg).
Minerals in hard water are detrimental to pipes, fixtures and appliances as the minerals start to build up over time and the hard scale can start to cause all sorts of plumbing problems such as reduced water flow, clogs, and increased stress on pipes and fixtures. There are different ways to reduce scale accumulation, but before selecting the method that best fits your needs it’s important to know if you live in an affected area.
The Cost of Hard Water
- Energy-efficiency is compromised by scale buildup. For example, in water heating and cooling systems, an eighth of an inch of scale buildup results in a 20 percent loss of efficiency. This means scale causes energy costs to increase significantly.
- Scale buildup in pipe systems damages the pipes and cause leaks. The subsequent costs of fixing or replacing the pipe system can be very significant. Because of these leaks, there can be severe water damage to the building, including mold growth.
- Scale buildup shortens the life of residential appliances and commercial/industrial equipment because it reduces water flow and encourages corrosion. Many equipment operators utilize acid cleaning regimens to remove scale accumulation. In conjunction with dissolving the scale, this method gradually destroys metal components and reduces the equipment’s life-cycle.
- Water hardness can cause sensors, such as flow meter, not to operate adequately.
- Scale buildup causes significant downtime to manufacturing operations.
Eco-Friendly Solutions
HydroFLOW has a full range of award-winning water conditioners that provide a chemical-free and eco-friendly solution for the harmful effects of scale. Residential Grade Products – These affordable water conditioners are very simple to install and can be used for on-demand or conventional water heaters, RVs, homes, commercial kitchens, steam room, pools and spas.
Commercial and Industrial Grade – These durable water conditioners are fully encapsulated and water-resistant. Designed for ease of installation, the units are simply built around the pipe and connected via the power supply unit. These industrial-grade products can be custom-made to fit pipes up to 86 inches in diameter.
Disclaimer
Figures are based on reports from government and private sources. We do not guarantee 100% accuracy. Private wells (over 13 million households) were not considered, due to insufficient online data. The contaminants described in the state pages are based on reports from Government and private sources; we do not guarantee the figures are 100% accurate.
Sources
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Various of Municipal Water Quality Report
Various of State Departments of Ecology
Various City, State and County Utility Departments
Various Water Management Information Systems