Mobile Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) supplies drinking water to the City of Mobile, parts of Mobile County, and nearby municipalities including Semmes, Prichard, Chickasaw, and Spanish Fort. The primary source is Big Creek Lake (J.B. Converse Reservoir), a 3,600-acre man-made lake built in 1952. Water is pumped through the S. Palmer Gaillard Pumping Station to two treatment facilities: the E.M. Stickney Water Treatment Plant on Moffett Road (permitted for 60 million gallons per day) and the H.E. Myers Water Treatment Plant on Hubert Pierce Road (permitted for 30 million gallons per day). Average daily delivery is 41 million gallons distributed through about 2,200 miles of lines.

Big Creek Lake's watershed lies within the Mobile Bay coastal plain, encompassing tributaries from the Dog River and Fowl River systems. The geology features surficial Quaternary alluvial and coastal sediments—sands, silts, and clays—overlying the thick Tertiary Hattiesburg and Pasagoula Formations, with deeper Miocene Alum Bluff Group limestones rarely influencing surface waters. Absent significant karst development or evaporite minerals, rainwater infiltrating sandy soils yields dilute, low-alkalinity water, producing a characteristically soft supply with low dissolved calcium and magnesium.

As a soft water supply, Mobile experiences minimal scale buildup in pipes, heaters, and appliances, reducing maintenance needs for dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters. Soap and detergents lather easily, and staining on glassware or fixtures is rare. No water softener is typically recommended; however, periodic cleaning of sediment filters may be advised due to organic particulates from the reservoir source. MAWSS treats water with chlorine disinfection; reports indicate contaminants like bromodichloromethane detected above health guidelines. Systems affirm EPA/ADEM compliance with no galvanized lines identified.