State water index

Arkansas water hardness

Search 180 indexed communities and 210 ZIP profiles, then compare the underlying utility, source, distance, and reporting context.

Median indexed hardness

71PPM

Moderately Hard

Indexed range 4.8–283 PPM

ZIP profiles: 210
Cities: 180
Matched utilities: 180
Counties: 72

Understanding Arkansas

Why local comparisons matter here

Arkansas includes the Ozarks, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas River Valley, and Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Carbonate and sandstone uplands differ from the sediments and large aquifers of the east.

In this index, soft is the largest category, covering 96 of 210 profiles with hardness data. The state median is 71 PPM, but the full indexed range is 4.8–283 PPM.

State distribution

Hardness across indexed ZIPs

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

Soft · 0–60 PPM96

Moderately hard · 61–120 PPM50

Hard · 121–180 PPM32

Very hard · 181+ PPM32

Evidence coverage

What the current records support

Hardness estimate: 100%
Lead 90th percentile: 98%
Copper 90th percentile: 8%

Low-confidence hardness profiles

Nearest site more than 25 miles away

Reported source water

Utility source mix

Surface water: 99
Groundwater: 80
Groundwater influenced by surface water: 1

Highest medians

Hardest indexed cities

1. Stuttgart283 PPM
2. Hazen281 PPM
3. Dumas274 PPM
4. Des Arc260 PPM
5. Dewitt259 PPM

Lowest medians

Softest indexed cities

City directory

Explore Arkansas by city

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

180 cities · 210 ZIP profiles

Search city or county

County

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180 cities found

Page 1 of 8

Alma

Crawford County · 1 ZIP

55PPM

County	Median	Range	ZIP profiles
Desha County	274 PPM	274–274	1
Arkansas County	271 PPM	259–283	2
Prairie County	270 PPM	259.5–281	2
Ashley County	256 PPM	255.5–255.5	1
Chicot County	252 PPM	252–252	1
Drew County	249 PPM	248.5–248.5	1
Izard County	236 PPM	216–249	5
Fulton County	232 PPM	221–242.5	2
Sharp County	227 PPM	226.5–226.5	1
Jackson County	215 PPM	209–215	3
Bradley County	202 PPM	202–202	1
Independence County	192 PPM	131.5–253	2

Why local comparisons matter here

Hardness across indexed ZIPs

What the current records support

Utility source mix

Hardest indexed cities

Softest indexed cities

Explore Arkansas by city

Alma

Arkadelphia

Ash Flat

Ashdown

Atkins

Austin

Bald Knob

Barling

Batesville

Bay

Bearden

Beebe

Benton

Bentonville

Bergman

Berryville

Black Rock

Blytheville

Bono

Booneville

Brinkley

Brookland

Bryant

Bull Shoals

Highest indexed county medians