How does Canon City's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Canon City (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Canon City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

157 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

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 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Canon City	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Canon City compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Canon City, Colorado	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Pueblo West, Colorado	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Fort Carson, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Colorado Springs, Colorado	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Fountain, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	863.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Canon City compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Canon City	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Canon City's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 157 mg/LpH: 8.2

Canon City City of (PWS ID: CO0122100) operates the public water system serving Canon City in Fremont County, Colorado. Water is sourced from surface water, treated at facilities employing conventional filtration, pre-oxidation with chlorine, and disinfection using chlorine and chlorine dioxide. The utility can be contacted at 719-269-9019 or visited at 103 Tunnel Dr. The 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report, covering 2025 data, is available via the city's DocumentCenter.

The watershed lies within the Arkansas River basin in the Canon City Embayment, shaped by sedimentary rock formations spanning Cretaceous to Tertiary periods, including the Pierre Shale and younger alluvial deposits. Surface waters interact with limestone and shale, picking up calcium and bicarbonate ions. However, relatively swift river flows and shorter residence times in mineral-rich zones compared to deeper groundwater alternatives result in a moderately mineralised, relatively soft supply.

As a soft supply, Canon City water causes minimal scale buildup on fixtures, pipes, or appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers. Soap lathers easily, reducing detergent use, and no significant spotting occurs on glassware — maintenance is straightforward with basic cleaning, and a water softener is unnecessary and could overly strip beneficial minerals. The utility reports 6 contaminants exceeding EPA health-based MCLGs, including 2,4-D and 1,2,3-Trichloropropane per 2026 public notices; treatment uses conventional methods with chlorine-based disinfection.

Geology & Source: Canon City Embayment, Arkansas River basin; Cretaceous Pierre Shale and Paleozoic limestone and dolomite outcrops — swift surface flows limit mineral contact; moderate mineralization rather than high hardness

Other Colorado Water Reports

Pueblo West

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Fort Carson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Colorado Springs

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Fountain

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canon City's water safe to drink?

Yes. Canon City's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Canon City?

Canon City's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Canon City compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Canon City (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Canon City is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.