City of Boulder Drinking Water Quality Program
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Hardness Time Series for 1999
Middle Boulder Creek at PSCo Weir

Preliminary Data - subject to revision


Marker Indicates no data available
Marker Indicates data exceeds plot scale.

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

Monitoring site information:
MBCaW Map
MBCaW Photo
  • Location: Middle Boulder Creek at PSCo Weir
  • Name: MBCaW
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 30'
  • Latitude: 39 ° N 57'
  • Elevation: 8185 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls

Plot Label Date Hard
mg/L as CaCO3
01 January, 1999 30.3
02 February, 1999 32.2
03 March, 1999 30.3
04 April, 1999 26.5
05 May, 1999 23.8
06 June, 1999 13.9
07 July, 1999 11.3
08 August, 1999 16.4
09 September, 1999 21.8
10 October, 1999 17.5
11 November, 1999 23.6
12 December, 1999 32.8
*value below detection limit:
Detection Limit (if available) 0.1

Preliminary Data - subject to revision

Select on the parameter name to view all Total Hardness time series plots on the basin map. Select on the table date to view stream Total Hardness profiles observed on that date. Select here to view all parameters at this site.

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Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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