Water Hardness in Arizona Cities

Water Hardness in Arizona Cities

Water hardness generally refers to the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. These levels can be quite diverse throughout the United States, with different regions experiencing varying degrees of water hardness.

In Arizona, water hardness is typically higher, often categorized as ‘hard to very hard,’ when compared to many other parts of the country—owing largely to the state’s geology and the sources of its water supply. Arizona’s desert landscape and reliance on mineral-rich sources like the Colorado River contribute to the hardness of the water. As with any area, water hardness in Arizona can also vary from one city to another and can change over time due to factors such as water treatment processes and shifts in water sources. This high hardness level affects aspects like taste, and it can decrease the efficiency of soaps and detergents, leading to challenges in residential and industrial settings.

The water hardness levels in the state of Arizona show considerable variation across different cities, with measurements given in parts per million (ppm) and grains per gallon (gpg). Cities such as Gilbert and Tempe display moderate hardness levels at 196.4ppm, 11.5gpg, and 146.0ppm, 8.0gpg, respectively. In contrast, Avondale shows a significantly higher level at 357.3ppm and 20.9gpg. Meanwhile, cities like Chandler and Mesa possess higher concentrations of hardness, reaching 330.5ppm, 19.3gpg, and 226.0ppm, 13.2gpg, respectively. It is also notable that the lowest measurable water hardness level among the cities listed is found in Surprise, with a level of 90.7ppm and 5.3gpg. However, several cities, including Tucson, Buckeye, Yuma, and others did not have available data.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Phoenix 232.5 13.6 Link
Tucson n/a n/a Link
Mesa 226.0 13.2 Link
Chandler 330.5 19.3 Link
Gilbert 196.4 11.5 Link
Glendale 250.0 14.6 Link
Scottsdale 278.5 16.3 Link
Peoria 166.4 9.7 Link Grabbed 6 locations to get a range (in gpg) and took an average.
Tempe 146.0 8.0 Link
Surprise 90.7 5.3 Link Used Mountain Vista System, which supplies majority of the city.
Goodyear 308.1 18.0 Link
Buckeye n/a n/a Link
Yuma n/a n/a Link
Avondale 357.3 20.9 Link
Flagstaff n/a n/a Link
Queen Creek 206.0 12.0 Link
Maricopa n/a n/a Link
Lake Havasu City 320.1 18.7 Link
Casa Grande n/a n/a Link
Marana 137.5 8.0 Link
Prescott Valley 130.0 7.6 Link
Oro Valley n/a n/a Link
Prescott 102.5 6.0 Link
Sierra Vista n/a n/a Link
Bullhead City n/a n/a Link Checked Desert Foothills and Mohave Reports as those are biggest per EPA search. Neither report hardness.
Apache Junction n/a n/a Link
San Luis n/a n/a Link
El Mirage 119.8 7.0 Link
Sahuarita n/a n/a Link
Kingman n/a n/a Link
Florence n/a n/a Link
Fountain Hills 273.9 16.0 Link
Nogales n/a n/a Link
Payson 146.0 8.5 Link
Douglas n/a n/a Link
Eloy n/a n/a Link
Coolidge n/a n/a Link
Somerton n/a n/a Link
Chino Valley n/a n/a Link
Paradise Valley 205.4 12.0 Link
Cottonwood n/a n/a Link
Camp Verde 102.5 5.9 Link
Show Low n/a n/a Link
Safford n/a n/a Link
Sedona n/a n/a Link
Winslow n/a n/a Link
Wickenburg n/a n/a Link
Page n/a n/a Link
Tolleson 146.0 8.5 Link
Globe n/a n/a Link
Youngtown 136.9 8.0 Link
Litchfield Park 204.0 11.9 Link
Snowflake n/a n/a Link
Benson n/a n/a Link
Thatcher n/a n/a Link Covered under Safford per EPA lookup
Guadalupe 146.0 8.0 Link Covered under Tempe
Cave Creek 231.1 13.5 Link
Bisbee n/a n/a Link
Holbrook n/a n/a Link
Clarkdale n/a n/a Link
South Tucson n/a n/a Link Covered under Tucson
Dewey-Humboldt n/a n/a Link
Eagar n/a n/a Link
Taylor n/a n/a Link Most recent is 2015
Pinetop-Lakeside n/a n/a Link
Clifton n/a n/a Link Covered by Morenci Water Co
Carefree 278.5 16.3 Link Gets predominantly from Scottsdale
St. Johns n/a n/a Link
Parker n/a n/a Link
Williams n/a n/a Link
Willcox n/a n/a Link
Pima n/a n/a Link
Star Valley n/a n/a Link
Colorado City n/a n/a Link
Superior n/a n/a Link
Wellton n/a n/a Link
Quartzsite n/a n/a Link
Gila Bend n/a n/a Link
Kearny n/a n/a Link No CCR on website
Springerville n/a n/a Link
Huachuca City n/a n/a Link
Miami n/a n/a Link
Fredonia n/a n/a Link
Tombstone n/a n/a Link
Mammoth n/a n/a Link
Patagonia n/a n/a Link
Duncan n/a n/a Link
Tusayan n/a n/a Link Link on their website leads to dead page
Hayden n/a n/a Link
Jerome n/a n/a Link
Winkelman n/a n/a Link
Arizona cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

Back to blog