Douglas Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
19.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
883.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.87
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Douglas, your appliances are currently losing 44% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Douglas | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Douglas compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Douglas, Arizona | 327 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona | 319 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Sierra Vista, Arizona | 401.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Nogales, Arizona | 404.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Rio Rico, Arizona | 362.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Douglas compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Douglas | 327 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Douglas home
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What Makes Douglas's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Douglas, Arizona, in Cochise County — a Cochise County city adjacent to Bisbee and Agua Prieta (Mexico) at the Arizona-Sonora international border — receives its municipal water from the Douglas Water Division, drawing from local groundwater wells in the Douglas Basin aquifer (Cochise County, southeast Arizona).
The extremely hard 327 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 883.5 mg/L reflect the Douglas Basin's highly calcareous and mineral-rich alluvial aquifer. The Douglas Basin aquifer is developed in Quaternary Basin and Range alluvial fill (deeply calcareous Sonoran Desert caliche deposits — high carbonate content from the surrounding mountain drainage), Miocene basin fill sediments (calcareous), and minor Chihuahuan Desert evaporitic input (gypsum and halite from the Chihuahuan Basin evaporites — elevating TDS significantly above the carbonate contribution alone). The cumulative calcareous caliche and evaporitic mineral loading produces the extreme hardness and elevated TDS.
At 327 mg/L with TDS 884, Douglas' water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential and critical. Scale forms immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are critically shortened, and water heaters fail within 2-3 years without softening. The PFAS level of 4.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Fort Huachuca (Sierra Vista, Cochise County — AFFF, the dominant Cochise County PFAS source), and the southeast Arizona-Mexico border corridor PFAS background contribute to Douglas' readings.
Geology & Source: Douglas in Cochise County draws from the Douglas Water Division on local wells (Cochise County, southeast Arizona border) — the Douglas Basin aquifer is developed in Quaternary Basin and Range alluvial fill (calcareous Sonoran Desert caliche) over Miocene basin sediments — Arizona Cochise County Basin and Range Douglas Basin aquifer produces extremely hard water at 327 mg/L with TDS 883.5 mg/L in this Cochise County Arizona city.