State water index

Alabama water hardness

Search 281 indexed communities and 406 ZIP profiles, then compare the underlying utility, source, distance, and reporting context.

Median indexed hardness

38PPM

Soft

Indexed range 7.4–2810 PPM

ZIP profiles: 406
Cities: 281
Matched utilities: 395
Counties: 67

Understanding Alabama

Why local comparisons matter here

Alabama spans the Appalachian ridges and Tennessee Valley in the north, the Piedmont, and the broad Gulf Coastal Plain to the south. Water sources and surrounding rock therefore change substantially across the state.

In this index, soft is the largest category, covering 264 of 406 profiles with hardness data. The state median is 38 PPM, but the full indexed range is 7.4–2810 PPM.

State distribution

Hardness across indexed ZIPs

Counts describe published ZIP profiles, not a population-weighted statewide sample.

Soft · 0–60 PPM264

Moderately hard · 61–120 PPM69

Hard · 121–180 PPM42

Very hard · 181+ PPM31

Evidence coverage

What the current records support

Hardness estimate: 100%
Lead 90th percentile: 100%
Copper 90th percentile: 9%

211

Low-confidence hardness profiles

202

Nearest site more than 25 miles away

Reported source water

Utility source mix

Groundwater: 214
Surface water: 176
Groundwater influenced by surface water: 5

Highest medians

Hardest indexed cities

1. Citronelle2810 PPM
2. Saraland2810 PPM
3. Satsuma2810 PPM
4. Axis2765 PPM
5. Bayou La Batre2765 PPM

Lowest medians

Softest indexed cities

City directory

Explore Alabama by city

Search by city or county, then sort by name, hardness, or ZIP coverage.

281 cities · 406 ZIP profiles

Search city or county

County

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281 cities found

Page 1 of 12

Abbeville

Henry County · 1 ZIP

135PPM

County	Median	Range	ZIP profiles
Mobile County	2040 PPM	1318.5–2810	29
Houston County	142 PPM	135–149	10
Henry County	141 PPM	135–141	4
Geneva County	135 PPM	132–141	5
Dale County	133 PPM	128–138	4
Coffee County	132 PPM	103–134.5	4
Barbour County	125 PPM	55–137.5	5
Madison County	103 PPM	100–140	19
Limestone County	100 PPM	99.1–103	6
Covington County	100 PPM	90.1–135	8
Marshall County	87 PPM	51–112	8
Cullman County	84 PPM	55.8–102.5	4

Why local comparisons matter here

Hardness across indexed ZIPs

What the current records support

Utility source mix

Hardest indexed cities

Softest indexed cities

Explore Alabama by city

Abbeville

Addison

Akron

Alabaster

Albertville

Alexandria

Aliceville

Allgood

Andalusia

Anniston

Arab

Ardmore

Ariton

Arley

Ashford

Ashland

Ashville

Athens

Atmore

Attalla

Auburn

Autaugaville

Axis

Banks

Highest indexed county medians