Is Cheyenne, WY Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Cheyenne tap water is legally compliant, but one contaminant exceeds health guidelines. Specifically: lead at 15 ppb (above the upcoming 10 ppb standard, effective 2027). A point-of-use filter is recommended for drinking and cooking water. Cheyenne also has very hard water at 190 PPM.
Hardness Scale: Where Cheyenne Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Cheyenne Compares
Cheyenne's water is 38% harder than the national average of 138 PPM. It ranks #342 out of 1000 cities in our database (harder than 66% of US cities we track). Within Wyoming, it ranks #4 of 7 cities (13% above the state average of 168 PPM). Among cities (50k-100k), Cheyenne ranks #105 of 258 for hardness. At this hardness level, water heaters run an estimated 35% less efficiently due to scale insulation, and major water-using appliances typically last 3 years less than the national average lifespan.
What Cheyenne's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 190 PPM - Treatment Recommended
Cheyenne has some seriously hard water. At 190 PPM (11.1 grains per gallon), your tap is loaded with mineral content carried in from the watershed geology. Here's the thing: it's perfectly safe to drink. The minerals won't hurt you. But they will hurt your wallet. That adds up. Hard water at 190 PPM increases household costs through scale-coated water heaters that use more energy, extra soap and detergent, and appliances that wear out faster. Most Cheyenne homeowners don't realize it until the plumber shows up. That's 13% harder than the Wyoming average.
Contaminants & Safety
Lead is the main concern here. At 15 ppb, Cheyenne's average is well above the health guideline of zero — there is no safe level of lead, especially for children. Lead typically enters your water from old pipes, not the source itself. Quick fix: run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking. Better fix: a certified lead-reduction filter (NSF/ANSI Standard 53) at your kitchen faucet. If your home was built before 1986, testing is strongly recommended.
What's in the Treatment Process
Cheyenne's surface water supply requires heavy chlorination to stay safe — but that creates a tradeoff. The treatment process generates disinfection byproducts: TTHMs at 34.5 ppb (43% of the legal limit, but 230x the EWG guideline) and HAA5 at 21.4 ppb (36% of the legal limit, but 214x the EWG guideline). These are within legal limits, but the EWG sets much tighter thresholds based on cancer-risk research. A whole-house activated carbon filter reduces both chlorine and byproducts.
Chromium-6 was detected at 0.0442 ppb, which is 2.2x the EWG health guideline. There's no separate federal limit for chromium-6, only total chromium. A reverse osmosis system is the most effective removal method. All measurements are within federal legal limits. The EWG guidelines represent a more conservative, health-based standard.
How Hard Water Affects Your Home
At 190 PPM, untreated hard water has measurable effects on household costs and appliance life:
- Water heater inefficiency: Scale insulation forces the heater to work harder (DOE estimates up to 22% more energy for heavily scaled units)
- Soap and detergent: Hard water reduces lathering, requiring significantly more product
- Appliance replacement: Water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines fail 2-4 years earlier due to scale buildup
- Plumbing maintenance: Scale buildup in pipes reduces flow and requires more frequent service
Note: Impact varies by household size, water usage, and local energy costs. A home water test provides the most accurate assessment for your specific situation.
| Contaminant | Detected | Health Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (as CaCO₃) | 190 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ⚠ Very Hard |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 290 PPM | < 300 PPM | 500 PPM | ✓ OK |
| PFAS (total) | 0 ppt | — | No total limit | ✓ ND |
| ↳ PFOA | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| ↳ PFOS | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| Lead | 15 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ⚠ Elevated |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 0.8 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | 0.6 mg/L | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | ✓ OK |
Recommendations for Cheyenne Homes
Our Top Picks for Cheyenne (190 PPM)
Hard water at 190 PPM causes scale buildup, increased energy use, and premature appliance failure. A softener protects your plumbing and appliances.
Recommended Filter for Cheyenne
Lead at 15 ppb exceeds the upcoming 10 ppb action level (effective 2027). A certified filter reduces these contaminants effectively.
How to Test Your Water in Cheyenne
Lead enters water from your home's plumbing, not the treatment plant — so Cheyenne's city-wide average of 15 ppb may not match your tap. Testing your specific faucet is the only way to know. Run cold water for 30 seconds before collecting a sample.
Free option: Request BOPU's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
📊 Already Tested Your Water?
City averages miss neighborhood-level variation. Share your results to help your neighbors get better data.
We review every submission before publishing. Your ZIP is shown; your identity is not.
About Cheyenne's Water Supply
Water Utility: BOPU
Water Source: Granite Springs + Crystal Reservoir (Surface Water)
Population Served: 64,165
Hardness: 190 PPM (11.1 grains per gallon)
Cheyenne's drinking water comes from surface sources — Granite Springs + Crystal Reservoir. Surface water requires more extensive treatment than groundwater, including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. This heavier chlorination is why disinfection byproducts tend to be higher in surface-supplied systems. Despite the treatment process, mineral hardness from the watershed carries through. The system serves 64,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request BOPU's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or test your own tap.
ZIP Codes Covered by This Report
This water quality data applies to all areas served by BOPU in Cheyenne, WY, including ZIP codes:
69122, 69125, 69128, 69129, 69131, 69133, 69141, 69145, 69147, 69148, 69149, 69154, 69156, 69160, 69162, 69190, 69301, 69331, 69333, 69334, 69335, 69336, 69340, 69341, 69345, 69348, 69351, 69352, 69353, 69355, 69356, 69357, 69358, 69361, 69363, 80612, 80729, 80732, 80745, 80747, 82001, 82002, 82003, 82005, 82006, 82007, 82008, 82009, 82010, 82050, 82052, 82053, 82054, 82059, 82060, 82061, 82081, 82082, 82210, 82212, 82214, 82215, 82217, 82218, 82219, 82221, 82223, 82240, 82243, 82244
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Water Softener Sizing for Cheyenne
At 190 PPM (11.1 GPG), here is how to size a softener for your Cheyenne home. Multiply hardness in GPG (11.1) by daily water usage (roughly 50 gallons per person). A family of four uses about 200 gallons/day: 11.1 GPG × 200 gal = 2220 grains/day. Over a 7-day regeneration cycle, that is 15,540 grains - a 32,000-grain softener is the right fit for most Cheyenne households.
Compare Cheyenne to Other Wyoming Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheyenne Water
Is Cheyenne tap water safe to drink?
Where does Cheyenne's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Cheyenne?
What water filter is best for Cheyenne?
Does Cheyenne water damage tankless water heaters?
Do I need both a softener AND a filter in Cheyenne?
How much does hard water cost a Cheyenne household per year?
What is the hardness of Cheyenne water in grains per gallon?
Data sources: Lead and copper data from EPA Safe Drinking Water Act LCR reporting. Contaminant data from utility-reported testing results. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025). Hardness from USGS and municipal reports. Data reflects system-level testing results and may not match your specific tap due to neighborhood plumbing, season, or recent utility changes. For your utility's latest results, request their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Our methodology. Last updated: 2026-02-24.
What Cheyenne Homeowners Actually Buy
Prioritized for contaminant reduction for homes with 190 PPM water.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission. Selection based on Cheyenne's water data.