Montgomery Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Montgomery, Alabama draws its municipal water supply from Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board (MWWSSB), sourcing surface water from the Catoma Creek reservoir system and supplemental intakes on the Alabama River in Montgomery County. The Alabama River provides a large, reliable flow from the upper Alabama–Coosa watershed. Raw water is treated at the Water Works' Oakwood Treatment Plant using conventional processes before distribution throughout the city. Water hardness in Montgomery measures 65.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.

Montgomery's soft supply reflects the city's position on the Gulf Coastal Plain and the character of its watershed geology. The Catoma Creek catchment drains Upper Cretaceous Selma Chalk, Eutaw Formation sandstone, and Tertiary Wilcox Group clays — sedimentary coastal plain deposits that contain some calcareous material but generally weather to calcium-poor sandy and clayey soils. The Alabama River at Montgomery has traversed the carbonate Valley and Ridge north of the city but loses much of its hardness character as it crosses onto the Coastal Plain. The result is a moderately soft, well-diluted supply by the time it reaches Montgomery's intake.

With hardness at 65.5 mg/L, Montgomery residents enjoy relatively soft water with minimal scale challenges. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop only light deposits over several months — occasional cleaning is all that is needed. Soap and shampoo lather readily, and dishwashers produce clean, largely spot-free results without heavy reliance on rinse-aid. Water heaters experience minimal scale build-up over their operational life. Montgomery Water Works consistently delivers water meeting all EPA and Alabama ADEM Safe Drinking Water Act requirements throughout the city.