Gadsden Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Gadsden Water Works & Sewer Board serves Gadsden, Alabama (Etowah County) and surrounding areas. The utility draws surface water from the Coosa River via the Middle Coosa Basin, supplemented by the Northeast Etowah County Water Cooperative (PWSID AL0000587), which also sources from Gadsden Water Works. The primary treatment plant is located at 3733 Old U.S. Highway 411, Gadsden, AL 35901. The utility treats water with chlorine and maintains compliance with federal and state drinking water standards.

Gadsden's water originates in the Coosa River watershed, which flows through the Valley and Ridge physiographic province dominated by carbonate rock aquifers. The geology consists of limestone bedrock and ancient sedimentary deposits characteristic of the Appalachian region. As water travels through these formations and surface tributaries, it dissolves calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, and other minerals, resulting in a moderately mineralised supply. The Coosa River watershed is part of EPA HUC 03150106.

At the soft hardness level (53.2 mg/L), Gadsden's water produces minimal scale buildup in appliances and pipes, with effects less severe than in harder water areas. Water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines may experience only light mineral deposits over time; a water softener is generally not required for hardness-related concerns, though it may benefit high-usage households with sensitive appliances. The 2023 CCR from the Northeast Etowah County Water Cooperative reports pH of 7.47 and chloride at 24.9 ppm, with no lead, copper, PFAS, or other contaminant violations during the January–December 2023 testing period.