How does Forrest City's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Forrest City (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Forrest City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

150 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Forrest City	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 Forrest City compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Forrest City, Arkansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Helena-West Helena, Arkansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
West Memphis, Arkansas	66.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
Marion, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
New South Memphis, Tennessee	171 mg/L	4 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Forrest City compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Forrest City	≈ 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 Forrest City's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 150 mg/LpH: 7.2

Forrest City Waterworks is the primary utility serving around 15,425 residents in Forrest City and nearby St. Francis County, Arkansas. This utility draws all its water from groundwater wells that tap into a local aquifer. Treatment processes include air stripping to remove volatile organic compounds and chlorination for disinfection, ensuring the water is safe from pathogens before reaching homes. For any service inquiries, residents can contact the utility directly via phone or mail.

The water supply originates from the Mississippi Embayment aquifer system, a vast groundwater source in eastern Arkansas. This shallow aquifer is composed of Quaternary-age sands and gravels mixed with clays, situated above older Cretaceous sandstone formations like the Nacatoch Sand. The presence of limestone and dolomite layers within the geology causes minerals to dissolve into the water, resulting in a moderately mineralized supply that is prone to hardness.

This moderately hard water can lead to scale buildup in home appliances, notably impacting the efficiency and lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. You might also notice that soap doesn't lather as well, potentially leaving residue on dishes and skin. To combat scale, regularly descale fixtures like faucets and coffee makers with vinegar and consider installing sediment filters. Flushing your water heater annually is also a good practice. Many homeowners find that installing a water softener significantly reduces these issues, preventing spots on glassware and extending the life of household appliances.

Geology & Source: Mississippi Embayment aquifer system; Quaternary and Tertiary sands, gravels, silts, clays; Cretaceous limestone and dolomite lenses impart moderate hardness

Other Arkansas Water Reports

Helena-West Helena

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Memphis

66.5 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Marion

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

New South Memphis

171 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forrest City's water safe to drink?

Yes. Forrest City's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Forrest City?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Forrest City's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Forrest City compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Forrest City (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Forrest City is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.