Rio Rico Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
21.2 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1027.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.97
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 Rio Rico, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rio Rico | 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 Rio Rico compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rio Rico, Arizona | 362.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Nogales, Arizona | 404.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Green Valley, Arizona | 148 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Sahuarita, Arizona | 180 mg/L | 2.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Drexel Heights, Arizona | 339 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Rio Rico compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rio Rico | 362.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Rio Rico's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rio Rico, Arizona, in Santa Cruz County — a Santa Cruz County master-planned unincorporated community adjacent to Nogales on the Arizona-Mexico border, in the Santa Cruz River valley corridor — receives its municipal water from Rio Rico Utilities or the Santa Cruz County system, drawing from the Santa Cruz River alluvial aquifer or local groundwater wells in the Santa Cruz Valley.
The very hard 362.5 mg/L hardness and extreme TDS of 1027.9 mg/L reflect the Santa Cruz Valley's Sonoran Desert Basin and Range extreme evaporite-carbonate geology. The Santa Cruz River alluvial aquifer in Santa Cruz County lies in a Basin and Range structural trough — a deep valley graben filled with Quaternary-Tertiary alluvial fill overlying the Cretaceous Bisbee Group (calcareous conglomerate-limestone), the Pennsylvanian Horquilla Limestone, and the Devonian Martin Formation (thick limestone). Evaporite dissolution (Permian and Triassic gypsum-anhydrite) and carbonate weathering in the Basin and Range graben produce the very hard, extreme-TDS water characteristic of the Arizona-Mexico border valley aquifer.
At 362.5 mg/L with TDS 1028 mg/L, Rio Rico's water is very hard. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration is essential. The PFAS level of 4.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Fort Huachuca (Sierra Vista, Cochise County — US Army Intelligence Center, AFFF user in the upper Santa Cruz basin) and the Nogales-Santa Cruz PFAS industrial-border corridor contribute to Rio Rico's readings.
Geology & Source: Rio Rico in Santa Cruz County draws from Rio Rico Utilities on the Santa Cruz River alluvial aquifer (Nogales-Santa Cruz Valley, Arizona-Sonora border) — the aquifer overlies Pennsylvanian Horquilla Limestone and Cretaceous Bisbee Group carbonate in the Basin and Range graben — Arizona-Sonora border Basin and Range carbonate aquifer produces very hard water at 362.5 mg/L with extreme TDS 1028 mg/L in this Santa Cruz County Arizona community.