City of Boulder/USGS Water Quality Monitoring

Map bar plots are plotted
on the following scale

Marker indicates no data available.
Boulder Creek Watershed
North Boulder Creek - Boulder Creek
Total Hardness Time Series for 1999
Indicated monitoring site:

Select on the map plot to view detailed time series information for Total Hardness at that site. Select on the site icon to view time series information for all parameters at that site.


Information on Total Hardness:

Hardness generally refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in water. In household use, these cations (ions with a charge greater than +1) can prevent soap from sudsing and leave behind a white scum in bathtubs. In the aquatic environment, calcium and magnesium help keep fish from absorbing metals, such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium, into their bloodstream through their gills. Therefore, the harder the water, the less easy it is for toxic metals to absorb onto gills. Water in the Boulder Creek watershed is generally soft because the water comes mainly from melting snow which is low in minerals and metals.

More general information about Total Hardness
Measurement of Total Hardness
Factors affecting Total Hardness
Standards regarding Total Hardness
Interpretation of Boulder Creek Total Hardness data
Data Source: City of Boulder Water Quality Monitoring
Point of Contact: Chris Rudkin
Collection and Analysis notes
Analysis method: SM 2340C

Return to the BASIN water quality catalog

Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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Last Page Update - Friday December 23, 2005