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Denver and Front Range water, explained
What's actually in the water where you live, what each system does about it, and how to tell whether you need one. Every number here is quoted from the utility that publishes it.
Your water
Front Range water hardness by city
Front Range hardness by utility, from Thornton at 11.7 gpg to Boulder at 2.4, and what each number means for your pipes, fixtures and appliances.Sep 2026 · 7 min read
Is Denver water safe to drink?
Yes, Denver Water reports it meets federal standards. Safe isn't the same as good, though: here's what's in it, from hardness to lead service lines.Sep 2026 · 8 min read
Softeners
Do I need a water softener in Colorado?
One number decides it: your hardness in grains per gallon. See what it is where you live, and when a softener is the wrong answer.Sep 2026 · 6 min read
Salt-free vs. salt-based: what each one actually does
A salt-free conditioner doesn't soften water; it changes how minerals behave. Here's what that means for your hardness test and any guarantee.Sep 2026 · 6 min read
Water softener maintenance: the Colorado owner's guide
A softener is mostly self-cleaning. Five minutes a month and one check a year keeps it working, and tells you early when something is wrong.Sep 2026 · 7 min read
Water softener salt: which kind, how much, and how often
Pellets or crystals, how many bags a month, why the tank bridges, and what salt does to the sodium in your water. A guide for Front Range homes.Sep 2026 · 7 min read
Filters and RO
Why your water smells like a pool, and what removes it
Denver, Aurora, Thornton and Castle Rock use chloramine. It won't gas off in a pitcher and ordinary carbon barely touches it. Here's what does.Sep 2026 · 6 min read
Water softener vs. reverse osmosis: which one do you actually need?
They fix different problems. A softener treats the water in your whole house; reverse osmosis treats the water in your glass. Here's which you need.Sep 2026 · 6 min read
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Rather just get the numbers?
We test your water, write down the target, and only recommend a system if there's something to fix.
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- No obligation, and no pitch if your water is fine.