Ken Caryl Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.8 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
253.7 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 Ken Caryl, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ken Caryl | 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 Ken Caryl compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ken Caryl, Colorado | 116.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Columbine, Colorado | 151 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Dakota Ridge, Colorado | 52 mg/L | 2.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Littleton, Colorado | 83 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Lakewood, Colorado | 149.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Ken Caryl compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ken Caryl | 116.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ken Caryl's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ken Caryl, Colorado, an unincorporated community in Jefferson County — a major south Jefferson County suburban community (Ken Caryl is a master-planned community in Jefferson County's Hogback corridor — one of the most affluent and scenic south Denver suburban communities, set in a valley between the Ken Caryl Ranch hogback ridges and the South Platte Valley foothills, adjacent to Lockheed Martin's Waterton Canyon facilities), home of the Ken Caryl Ranch Open Space (a significant Jefferson County open space and trail system in the Dakota Hogback–Platte River corridor), a diverse Jefferson County community with a primarily affluent professional population, adjacent to Chatfield Reservoir State Park (one of the most popular recreation areas in the Denver metro area — sailing, boating, and camping on the South Platte River reservoir), and one of the most desirable Jefferson County foothills communities — draws its municipal water supply via Denver Water. Water hardness in Ken Caryl measures 116.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Ken Caryl's moderate hardness reflects Denver Water's South Platte watershed supply with some distribution variation. The South Platte River (Chatfield Reservoir) drains the Precambrian Pikes Peak Granite and Front Range (calcareous-poor). Denver Water distributes to the south Jefferson County Ken Caryl zone via longer distribution runs (producing moderate 116.5 mg/L slightly higher than downtown Denver's ~52 mg/L).
At 116.5 mg/L, Ken Caryl residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning is recommended. Denver Water consistently delivers water meeting all Colorado CDPHE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mountain reservoir supply from the South Platte River (Chatfield Reservoir) via the Denver Water — the Jefferson County south Denver suburban Ken Caryl Hogback corridor (Precambrian calcareous-poor Front Range granite — the calcareous-poor Rocky Mountain Front Range watershed; Denver Water south Jefferson County distribution to Ken Caryl zone); moderately hard supply at 116.5 mg/L in Jefferson County.