Erie Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
253.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.31
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 Erie, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Erie | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -32% |
| Washing Machine | 9.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 10.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -27% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Erie compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Erie, Colorado | 116.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Lafayette, Colorado | 142 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Louisville, Colorado | 104.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Longmont, Colorado | 109 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Broomfield, Colorado | 149 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Erie compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Erie | 116.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Erie home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Erie's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Erie, Colorado, in Boulder County (also partially in Weld County) — a rapidly growing Front Range community at the Boulder-Weld County line between Longmont and Broomfield, one of Colorado's fastest-expanding towns in the metro Denver-Boulder corridor, known for its mixed residential-commercial character and tech industry workforce — receives its municipal water from the Town of Erie Water Utility or the Left Hand Water District, drawing from the Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) Project supply through Carter Lake or Boulder Reservoir, or from Erie's treated water supply agreements with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
The moderately hard 116.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 253.4 mg/L reflect the Colorado-Big Thompson Project's supply character — moderate hardness from Rocky Mountain western-slope snowmelt and reservoir transit. The Colorado-Big Thompson Project diverts water from the western slope Colorado River (Green Mountain Reservoir, Granby Reservoir) through the Adams Tunnel under the Continental Divide to the Front Range. This western-slope supply drains Precambrian granite and gneiss of the Rocky Mountain Core (soft crystalline terrain) but picks up moderate dissolved minerals in transit through the Williams Fork, Troublesome Creek, and upper Colorado River drainage basins where Pennsylvanian and Cretaceous calcareous and shale formations contribute to the supply's mineral budget.
At 116.5 mg/L, Erie's water is moderately hard — comfortable for the Boulder County tech corridor household. Scale builds slowly over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling of heating appliances is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.1 ppt is favorable for the Front Range — Erie's predominantly residential character, the Boulder County open space and agricultural watershed, and the Northern Colorado water system's limited direct military or industrial PFAS sources produce a modest background.
Geology & Source: Erie in Boulder County draws from the Town of Erie Water Utility or Left Hand Water District on the Carter Lake Reservoir (Colorado-Big Thompson Project) or Boulder Reservoir — the Colorado-Big Thompson supply draws from the western slope Colorado River system — Rocky Mountain snowmelt through Precambrian granite and Pennsylvanian and Cretaceous sedimentary formations produces moderately hard water at 116.5 mg/L with TDS 253 mg/L in this Boulder County suburb.