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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
What your water utility publishes for hardness and disinfectant, from Thornton at 13.5 grains per gallon to Boulder at 2.4, and what each number means for your house.Sep 2026 · 7 min read
Is Denver water safe to drink?
Yes, and Denver Water reports it meets or beats federal standards. Safe is not the same as good, though. Here is what is actually in it: hardness, chloramine, and the lead service line question.Sep 2026 · 8 min read
Softeners
Do I need a water softener in Colorado?
Whether a softener is worth it comes down to one number: your hardness in grains per gallon. Here is 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 does not soften water. It changes how the minerals behave. That distinction decides whether your hardness test can change, and whether anyone can guarantee a result.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 has to do with the sodium in your water. A practical 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 Water, Aurora, Thornton, Westminster and Castle Rock all disinfect with chloramine. It does not gas off in a pitcher, and ordinary carbon barely touches it. Here is what does.Sep 2026 · 6 min read
Water softener vs. reverse osmosis: which one do you actually need?
They solve different problems. A softener changes the water in your whole house. Reverse osmosis changes the water in your glass. Here is how to tell which one your water calls for.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.