How does Cherry Creek's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cherry Creek (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Cherry Creek Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

310.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Cherry Creek, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Cherry Creek	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Cherry Creek compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Cherry Creek, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Centennial, Colorado	≈ 180+ mg/L	3.7 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Castlewood, Colorado	≈ 60–120 mg/L	3.4 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Lone Tree, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Greenwood Village, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Cherry Creek compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Cherry Creek	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Cherry Creek's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 310.2 mg/LpH: 7.9

The Cherry Creek water supply serves the Denver metropolitan area, managed by entities like East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District and Cherry Creek Village Water District. Its primary sources are the Cherry Creek Reservoir and connections to the South Platte River system. Water treatment plants utilize conventional filtration and disinfection processes to ensure compliance with EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards for residents across multiple counties.

The watershed originates in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. This region's geology features Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, specifically the Pierre Shale and Niobrara Formation, alongside older Precambrian granite and metamorphic basement rock. The natural weathering of these formations releases dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals, which contribute to the moderately hard character of the water supply. The South Platte River system itself gathers runoff from both high-elevation snowmelt and lower-elevation groundwater sources.

At its moderately hard levels, this water can lead to some scale buildup in appliances like water heaters and kettles, and may reduce the efficiency of detergents. Homeowners with high hot-water usage or sensitive appliances might consider point-of-use softening, though whole-home treatment isn't usually essential. Keeping coffee makers descaled and performing periodic water heater maintenance will help extend their lifespan. ECCV performs regular testing, confirming that distributed tap water meets all EPA contaminant limits, including lead and copper.

Geology & Source: Front Range metamorphic and Cretaceous sedimentary terrain; weathering of feldspar and carbonate minerals yields moderate hardness

Other Colorado Water Reports

Centennial

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Castlewood

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Lone Tree

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Greenwood Village

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Cherry Creek's water safe to drink?

Yes. Cherry Creek's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Cherry Creek?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Cherry Creek's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Cherry Creek compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cherry Creek (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Cherry Creek 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.