Forrest City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
394.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
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 Forrest City, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Forrest City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -55% |
| Washing Machine | 7.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -41% |
| Water Heater | 8.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Forrest City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forrest City, Arkansas | 176.5 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| West Memphis, Arkansas | 66.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| New South Memphis, Tennessee | 171 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Memphis, Tennessee | 72 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Horn Lake, Mississippi | 68.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Forrest City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Forrest City | 176.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Forrest City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Forrest City, Arkansas, in St. Francis County — the St. Francis County seat adjacent to Wynne and Brinkley in the east-central Arkansas Mississippi Delta — receives its municipal water from the Forrest City Water Division, drawing from the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer or the White River system (St. Francis County) through the east-central Arkansas water treatment system.
The hard 176.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 394.7 mg/L are substantially harder than the northeastern Arkansas Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer communities (Blytheville: 74.5 mg/L) — reflecting either deeper calcareous aquifer contribution or a different source blend at St. Francis County. The St. Francis County water system may draw from Cretaceous calcareous formations (Tokio Formation — calcareous), Paleocene Midway Group (calcareous), or a blended supply with higher dissolved carbonate than the shallow alluvial aquifer. The calcareous bedrock at the St. Francis County position produces the harder east-central Arkansas supply.
At 176.5 mg/L, Forrest City's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 5.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Blytheville Air Force Base (Mississippi County — legacy AFFF) and the Arkansas Delta industrial corridor contribute to Forrest City's readings.
Geology & Source: Forrest City in St. Francis County draws from the Forrest City Water Division on the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer (St. Francis County, east-central Arkansas) — the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer at St. Francis County is developed in Quaternary alluvial sand and gravel (near-insoluble, Holocene Mississippi floodplain) — Arkansas St. Francis County Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer Quaternary floodplain produces hard water at 176.5 mg/L with TDS 394.7 mg/L.