Water softeners and filtration in Denver, CO

What does Denver Water publish about Denver water?

Denver Water supplies the city with surface water from rivers, lakes and reservoirs fed by mountain snowmelt.

• Denver Water publishes hardness in parts per billion. 1,000 ppb equals 1 ppm, so its 2025 range is 55 to 124 ppm. Its own description, soft to moderately hard, is milder than the USGS class for the top of that range.

What does 55 to 124 mg/L mean for a Denver home?

55 to 124 mg/L is about 3.2 to 7.3 grains per gallon. The low end, 55 mg/L, is 5 mg/L under the 60 mg/L top of the USGS soft class; Denver's high end, 124 mg/L, is 56 mg/L under the 180 mg/L top of the USGS hard class. (USGS hardness classes)

Which systems fit Denver water?

How does a Denver quote work?

1. Send a request from one of the 31 Denver ZIP codes listed below.
2. An assessment at your home, where your tap can be checked against Denver Water's published 55 to 124 mg/L.
3. You get a written quote listing what is included.
4. Installation and service by that company.

Common questions

How hard is the water in Denver?

Total hardness reported by Denver Water: Average 105,009 ppb, range 55,000-124,000 ppb (Calendar year 2025). Hardness, as Denver Water describes it reported by Denver Water: "Soft to moderately hard" (Undated web page).

Is Denver water hard or soft?

Soft to hard. The low end, 55 mg/L, is 5 mg/L under the 60 mg/L top of the USGS soft class; Denver's high end, 124 mg/L, is 56 mg/L under the 180 mg/L top of the USGS hard class.

How many grains per gallon is Denver water?

The utility publishes hardness in mg/L, not grains. The published 55 to 124 mg/L is about 3.2 to 7.3 grains per gallon, converted by us at 17.1 mg/L per grain.

Where does Denver tap water come from?

Denver Water draws on rivers, streams, reservoirs and springs fed by mountain snowmelt, gathered through a north and a south collection system. Source: Denver Water 2026 Water Quality Report.

Does Denver water change over time?

Denver Water says its water is slightly harder in winter, when waterways and reservoirs freeze, and softer from late spring through fall, when runoff dilutes the minerals. Source: Denver Water water hardness page.

Is Denver water treated with chlorine or chloramine?

Denver Water adds chloramine after filtration to keep the water disinfected. Source: Denver Water treated water quality summary. That matters when choosing a filter for a Denver home: catalytic carbon is the activated-carbon type designed to adsorb chloramine (NDSU Extension, Filtration: Sediment, Activated Carbon, and Mixed Media). A softener leaves Denver Water's disinfectant in the water.

Do I need a water softener in Denver?

Denver Water publishes 55 to 124 mg/L for Denver, which reads as soft to hard. A test at your house shows whether your tap matches it.

Is the water the same in every Denver home?

2 published figures cover Denver, from 1 utility; which applies depends on where you live.

How much does a water softener cost in Denver?

We publish no prices for Denver. The installing company gives a written quote after an assessment at your home.

Who installs the system?

We have not named a local installing company for Denver yet. We will tell you the company's name and ask you before your request is shared with anyone.

Is Denver Water Systems part of the city or the water utility?

No. Denver Water Systems is not affiliated with Denver Water; it copies and links the published figures.

Is booking an assessment a purchase?

No, and a request commits you to nothing.

Which ZIP codes does this page cover?

80202, 80203, 80204, 80205, 80206, 80207, 80209, 80210, 80211, 80212, 80216, 80218, 80219, 80220, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80230, 80231, 80236, 80237, 80238, 80239, 80246, 80247, 80249, 80264, 80266, 80290, 80293, 80294

Compare published hardness in other cities on hard water by city.

Machine-readable facts: water.json. Summary for AI assistants: llms.txt.