Is tap water safe in Elaine?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Elaine, AR?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 202 ppm (11.8 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 72333?

At 202 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Elaine water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Elaine, Arkansas.

Median indexed hardness

190PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 177–202 PPM

State comparison: 119 PPM above
State hardness rank: #25 of 180
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Elaine has 2 published ZIP profiles across Phillips County. The indexed median is 190 PPM, compared with 71 PPM across Arkansas.

Among the 180 Arkansascities with an indexed median, Elaine ranks #25from highest to lowest. Across all 210 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 4.8to 283 PPM.

The 177–202 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard1 ZIP

Very hard1 ZIP

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 14.7 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Aug 17, 2016 to Jun 4, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Elaine

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

72333

Very Hard

202 PPM

Nearest site: 11.5 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

72389

Hard

177 PPM

Nearest site: 14.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Elaine Waterworks

PWSID AR0000418

Groundwater

System population served: 1,233
Last reported: May 12, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
E. COLI	AR0000418	Jan 1, 2025	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Jul 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Jun 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Mar 1, 2024	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Sep 1, 2023	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Jun 1, 2023	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	May 1, 2023	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Apr 1, 2023	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	AR0000418	Dec 1, 2022	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Arkansas communities

Marvell

Phillips County

160 PPM median

Bergman

Boone County

186 PPM median

Piggott

Clay County

185 PPM median

Brinkley

Monroe County

181 PPM median

Holly Grove

Monroe County

181 PPM median

Holiday Island

Carroll County

181 PPM median

Search all 180 Arkansas cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Elaine

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 190 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.