Chaparral Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
23.8 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1285.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Chaparral, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Chaparral | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Chaparral compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chaparral, New Mexico | 407 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| El Paso, Texas | 407 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Sunland Park, New Mexico | 169.5 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Horizon City, Texas | 377.5 mg/L | 11 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Socorro, Texas | 352 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Chaparral compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chaparral | 407 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Chaparral's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Chaparral, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County — an unincorporated Doña Ana County community adjacent to Sunland Park and the El Paso Texas border in the southern New Mexico Rio Grande corridor — receives its water from local Chaparral utilities, drawing from the Hueco Bolson Aquifer (Doña Ana County) through the south New Mexico border distribution.
The extremely hard 407 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1285.3 mg/L (one of the highest TDS values in the entire USA dataset) reflect the south New Mexico Hueco Bolson's deeply concentrated evaporitic closed-basin aquifer character — nearly identical to El Paso, Texas, and Sunland Park NM (hardness ~400-420 mg/L). The Hueco Bolson Aquifer at Doña Ana County is developed in Quaternary bolson alluvium (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Permian Yeso Formation (halite and gypsum dissolution — dominant TDS contributor), and Permian Hueco Limestone (calcareous — secondary contributor). The Permian evaporitic dissolution in the closed Rio Grande basin produces the extreme south New Mexico supply.
At 407 mg/L with TDS 1285, Chaparral's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential, and a reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking water. Scale accumulates extremely rapidly on all surfaces and appliance lifespans are severely shortened without treatment. The PFAS level of 4.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Fort Bliss (El Paso TX — AFFF) and the south New Mexico-west Texas military corridor contribute to Chaparral's readings.
Geology & Source: Chaparral in Doña Ana County draws from the Chaparral Water Division on the Hueco Bolson Aquifer (Doña Ana County, south New Mexico border region) — the Hueco Bolson is a closed-basin alluvial aquifer concentrated by Permian evaporitic (Yeso Formation halite, gypsum) dissolution — New Mexico Doña Ana County Hueco Bolson Permian evaporitic alluvial aquifer produces extremely hard water at 407 mg/L with TDS 1285.3 mg/L.