Canon City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.5 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
136.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.21
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Canon City, your appliances are currently losing 10% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Canon City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 7.1 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -16% |
| Washing Machine | 10.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -10% |
| Water Heater | 12.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Canon City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canon City, Colorado | 77 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Pueblo West, Colorado | 140.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Fort Carson, Colorado | 121 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Colorado Springs, Colorado | 148.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Fountain, Colorado | 123.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Canon City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Canon City | 77 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Canon City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Canon City, Colorado, in Fremont County — the Fremont County seat adjacent to Florence and Penrose in the Royal Gorge corridor of south-central Colorado, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains — receives its municipal water from the Canon City Water Division, drawing from the Arkansas River (Fremont County) through the Arkansas River intake and Canon City treatment plant.
The moderately soft 77 mg/L hardness and TDS of 136.2 mg/L reflect the upper Arkansas River's moderately insoluble Rocky Mountain crystalline character — harder than the very soft Front Range mountain supplies (Idaho Springs, Breckenridge: ~20-40 mg/L) because the Arkansas at Canon City has traveled through some lower-elevation sedimentary formations (Cretaceous Dakota Sandstone, Niobrara Limestone) before the Royal Gorge intake. The Front Range and Sawatch Range headwaters — Precambrian Pikes Peak Granite (insoluble), Precambrian Sawatch metamorphics (insoluble) — are diluted by minor carbonate contributions from the foothills before reaching Canon City.
At 77 mg/L, Canon City's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 2.9 ppt is very low — the Fremont County rural Royal Gorge corridor has very limited industrial PFAS sources, and the upper Arkansas River mountain headwaters are essentially pristine.
Geology & Source: Canon City in Fremont County draws from the Canon City Water Division on the Arkansas River (Fremont County, south-central Colorado) — the Arkansas at Canon City drains the Sangre de Cristo and Front Range (Precambrian Pikes Peak Granite — insoluble, Sawatch Range metamorphics) — Colorado Fremont County Arkansas River Rocky Mountain crystalline watershed produces moderately soft water at 77 mg/L with TDS 136.2 mg/L in this Fremont County Colorado city.