How does Fountain's water compare to the national average?

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

Fountain Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

534 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 Fountain, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Fountain	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 Fountain compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Fountain, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	863.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Security-Widefield, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Fort Carson, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Cimarron Hills, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Colorado Springs, Colorado	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Fountain compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Fountain	≈ 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 Fountain's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 534 mg/LpH: 8.2

The City of Fountain Water Division supplies drinking water to residents of Fountain, Colorado, in El Paso County. The utility sources water from the Fountain Creek watershed, with water samples collected by Colorado State Certified Water Operators and tested by certified laboratories. The service area encompasses the Fountain corridor south of Colorado Springs. Specific treatment plant names and infrastructure details were not available in retrieved sources, but the city confirms water safety through standard sampling protocols and certified laboratory analysis.

The Fountain Creek watershed drains the south Colorado Springs corridor in El Paso County, within the Front Range of Colorado. Underlying geology is dominated by Precambrian Pikes Peak Granite, which is calcareous-poor, but the broader watershed includes calcareous-moderate formations that contribute dissolved minerals to the supply. This geological setting, typical of the El Paso County Front Range corridor, produces a moderately hard water character through interaction with carbonate-bearing sediments.

Moderately hard water may cause scale buildup in appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers, reducing efficiency over time. Regular descaling with vinegar and use of high-efficiency detergents can mitigate these effects. A water softener may benefit households experiencing persistent scaling. The City of Fountain confirms water is safe and meets quality standards through certified testing; residents seeking specific contaminant data on pH, lead, copper, or PFAS should consult the city's annual water quality reports.

Geology & Source: Fountain Creek watershed — El Paso County Front Range; Precambrian Pikes Peak Granite, calcareous-poor; calcareous-moderate south Colorado Springs corridor produces moderately hard supply

Other Colorado Water Reports

Security-Widefield

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Fort Carson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Cimarron Hills

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Colorado Springs

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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 Fountain's water safe to drink?

Yes. Fountain'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 Fountain?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Fountain'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 Fountain compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Fountain (≈ 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 Fountain 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.