City of Boulder Storm Water Quality Program
Boulder Creek Watershed
Total Hardness Time Series for 2000
Boulder Creek at Orodell

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:
BC-ORO Map
BC-ORO Photo
  • Location: Boulder Creek at Orodell
  • Name: BC-ORO
  • Type: Composite
  • Frequency: Monthly
  • Longitude: 105 ° W 19'
  • Latitude: 40 ° N 85'
  • Elevation: 5825 feet asl
  • Site photo
Downstream Site: Boulder Creek at Eben G. Fine Park
Upstream Site: North Boulder Creek at Boulder Falls

Plot Label Date Hard
mg/L as CaCO3
01 January, 2000 No Data
02 February, 2000 No Data
03 March, 2000 No Data
04 April, 2000 No Data
05 May, 2000 No Data
06 June, 2000 15.0
07 July, 2000 No Data
08 August, 2000 No Data
09 September, 2000 No Data
10 October, 2000 No Data
11 November, 2000 No Data
12 December, 2000 No Data
*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.

Return to the BASIN water quality catalog

Return to the BASIN environmental data catalog


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