Loveland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.6 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
242.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.30
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 Loveland, your appliances are currently losing 15% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Loveland | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -31% |
| Washing Machine | 9.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -22% |
| Water Heater | 11.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -26% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Loveland compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Loveland, Colorado | 113 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Johnstown, Colorado | 76 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Fort Collins, Colorado | 129 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Windsor, Colorado | 67.5 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Longmont, Colorado | 109 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Loveland compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Loveland | 113 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Loveland home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Loveland's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Loveland, Colorado, in Larimer County at the confluence of the Big Thompson River and the Front Range foothills — the 'Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park' — draws its municipal water supply from Horsetooth Reservoir (a Bureau of Reclamation Colorado-Big Thompson Project reservoir fed by a transmountain diversion from the Colorado River system through the Adams Tunnel) and Boyd Lake (a Big Thompson River alluvial reservoir) via the City of Loveland Water and Power Division. The Colorado-Big Thompson Project brings western slope water to the Front Range. Water hardness in Loveland measures 113 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Loveland's moderate hardness reflects the Front Range water supply blend. The Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project transmountain diversion water originates from the Colorado River and Shadow Mountain–Granby Reservoir system in Grand County — draining the Rocky Mountain National Park granodiorite and gneiss terrain (very soft western slope water). However, Horsetooth Reservoir in Larimer County concentrates this western slope water through evaporation and blends it with Big Thompson River drainage from the Front Range (Precambrian Rawah terrane gneiss, Mesozoic Morrison and Dakota sandstone contributing some dissolved minerals). The moderately hard 113 mg/L reflects the C-BT diluted-by-local-Front-Range blend typical of the Poudre–Big Thompson corridor.
At 113 mg/L, Loveland residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. City of Loveland Water and Power Division consistently delivers water meeting all Colorado CDPHE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from Horsetooth Reservoir (Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Poudre River tributary) and Boyd Lake via the City of Loveland Water and Power Division — the Colorado Front Range Precambrian gneiss and schist, Mesozoic sandstone, and Colorado-Big Thompson transmountain diversion (western slope Rocky Mountain runoff); moderately hard supply at 113 mg/L in Larimer County.