Conway Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
river
pH Level
6.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
33 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Conway, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Conway | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Conway compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Conway, Arkansas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Maumelle, Arkansas | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Sherwood, Arkansas | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| North Little Rock, Arkansas | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Little Rock, Arkansas | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Conway compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Conway | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Conway's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Conway Corporation provides drinking water to approximately 65,000 residents in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas. The primary source is surface water from Brewer Lake, a 28,900 acre-feet reservoir near Plumerville, treated at the Roger Q. Mills Water Treatment Plant with a capacity of 24 million gallons per day. Additional purchased water comes from Community Water Association, sourced from Greer's Ferry Lake. The utility complies with EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and issues annual Consumer Confidence Reports detailing testing and treatment processes.
The watershed for Brewer Lake encompasses upland areas in the Arkansas River Valley transition zone, with drainage influenced by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks including the Mississippian Stanley Shale and Pennsylvanian Atoka Formation. Greer's Ferry Lake lies in the Ozark region, fed by the Middle White River system amid chert-bearing limestones and shales. These rock types release calcium and magnesium ions through dissolution, resulting in moderately mineralised water with a natural hardness character managed through treatment at the Roger Q. Mills Water Treatment Plant.
As moderately hard water, Conway's supply promotes moderate scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, reducing efficiency over time; washing machines and faucets are also affected. Regular vinegar descaling and annual water heater flushing help, and a water softener is recommended for households noticing soap scum, dry skin, or spotted glassware. Treatment at the Roger Q. Mills Water Treatment Plant involves filtration, disinfection, and coagulation, maintaining turbidity below 1 NTU; independent testing notes exceedances for bromodichloromethane and nitrate, linked to disinfection byproducts and agricultural runoff.
Geology & Source: Ouachita Mountains Paleozoic sandstones, shales, and limestones — Mississippian Stanley Shale and Pennsylvanian Atoka Formation; Ozark Plateau chert-bearing limestones at Greer's Ferry; limestone dissolution yields moderately mineralised supply
Other Arkansas Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Conway's water safe to drink?
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How does Conway compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Conway is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
Water Hardness
Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
TDS — Total Dissolved Solids
Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.
PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.
Lead
Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Appliance Lifespan
Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.