Sierra Vista Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
23.5 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1197.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Sierra Vista, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sierra Vista | 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 Sierra Vista compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sierra Vista, Arizona | 401.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Sierra Vista Southeast, Arizona | 319 mg/L | 4.4 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 |
| Green Valley, Arizona | 148 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Sierra Vista compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sierra Vista | 401.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sierra Vista's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sierra Vista, Arizona, the largest city in Cochise County in southeast Arizona — a major US Army community (Fort Huachuca — home of the US Army Intelligence Center and Signal Command, one of the largest Army installations in the Southwest), a significant birding destination in the upper San Pedro River Valley (one of the premier birding corridors in North America), and a diverse southeast Arizona community with a significant military and defense contractor population — draws its municipal water supply from the Upper San Pedro Valley aquifer via the City of Sierra Vista Water Division. Water hardness in Sierra Vista measures 401.5 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.
Sierra Vista's extremely hard supply reflects the Cochise County Southeast Arizona basin-fill aquifer's exceptional calcareous geology. The Upper San Pedro Valley alluvial aquifer at Sierra Vista is recharged from: the Huachuca Mountains (the Paleozoic calcareous limestone and dolomite of the Huachuca Mountains — Devonian Martin Formation and Mississippian Escabrosa Limestone, highly calcareous carbonate terrain); Basin and Range calcareous Tertiary basin fill (gypsiferous and calcareous Tertiary sediment from calcareous mountain erosion); and Cretaceous calcareous strata of the Mule and Dragoon Mountains flanking the San Pedro Valley. The Huachuca Mountain calcareous limestone dissolution and calcareous basin fill produce the extremely hard 401.5 mg/L.
At 401.5 mg/L, Sierra Vista residents face severe hard water challenges. Scale deposits form very rapidly on all fixtures and appliances — weekly descaling and appliance protection measures are strongly recommended. City of Sierra Vista Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Arizona ADEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Sierra Vista Sub-watershed (Upper San Pedro Aquifer) via the City of Sierra Vista Water Division — the Cochise County southeast Arizona Huachuca Mountain basin-fill aquifer (Quaternary–Tertiary calcareous basin alluvium and Cretaceous–Paleozoic calcareous limestone and dolomite of the Huachuca and Mule Mountains); extremely hard supply at 401.5 mg/L — reflecting extreme calcareous basin-fill dissolution.