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

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

Windsor Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.4

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

112.6 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 Windsor, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Windsor	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 Windsor compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Windsor, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Johnstown, Colorado	76 mg/L	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Loveland, Colorado	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Greeley, Colorado	≈ 0–60 mg/L	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Fort Collins, Colorado	≈ 60–120 mg/L	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Windsor compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 112.6 mg/LpH: 7.4

Windsor, Colorado is served by the Town of Windsor Water Department, which supplies approximately 3.1 million gallons of water daily. The utility operates two storage tanks with capacities of 2 million and 3 million gallons. Water comes from a mixed portfolio of surface supplies drawn from the Cache la Poudre River and groundwater extracted from confined aquifers in the South Platte Basin, ensuring reliable supply to the community.

The South Platte Basin watershed is characterized by Cretaceous-age sedimentary formations — sandstones and shales — underlain by Precambrian crystalline basement rocks. The confined aquifers contain naturally occurring dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium from limestone and dolomite formations, typical of Colorado's Front Range region. These mineral-rich strata contribute to the moderately hard character of the blended supply.

Moderately hard water produces noticeable scale buildup in hot-water appliances, water heaters, and dishwashers over time. Residents may observe reduced soap effectiveness and film on glassware. Regular descaling of kettles, coffee makers, and showerheads is recommended. While softening is not essential for health reasons, many households opt for point-of-use or whole-house softeners to reduce mineral deposits and improve appliance longevity. The Town of Windsor maintains compliance with all state and federal drinking water regulations; residents can obtain detailed quality data including pH, disinfection byproducts, and lead and copper results from the annual Consumer Confidence Report.

Geology & Source: Cache la Poudre River and South Platte Basin confined aquifers; Cretaceous sandstone and shale over Precambrian crystalline basement — limestone and dolomite yield moderately hard water

Other Colorado Water Reports

Johnstown

76 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Loveland

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Greeley

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Fort Collins

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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 Windsor's water safe to drink?

Yes. Windsor'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 Windsor?

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

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