Hot Springs Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
141.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Hot Springs, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hot Springs | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -18% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hot Springs compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hot Springs, Arkansas | 82.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Hot Springs Village, Arkansas | 84 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Benton, Arkansas | 191.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Bryant, Arkansas | 160.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Maumelle, Arkansas | 101 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Hot Springs compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hot Springs | 82.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Hot Springs home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Hot Springs's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Garland County seat — a major central Arkansas historic resort city (Hot Springs is home of Bathhouse Row — eight grand historic bathhouses built along the federally protected thermal springs in the Ouachita Mountains, now comprising Hot Springs National Park — the oldest federally protected land in the United States and one of the most unique national parks), home of Oaklawn Park (one of the most historic horse racing tracks in the United States, hosting the Arkansas Derby each spring), the boyhood home of President Bill Clinton (the 42nd US President grew up in Hot Springs — Clinton has described Hot Springs as the formative environment of his childhood), and a diverse Garland County community with a vibrant tourism and gaming economy — draws its municipal water supply from Lake Catherine via the City of Hot Springs Water Utility. Water hardness in Hot Springs measures 82.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft.
Hot Springs's moderate softness reflects the Ouachita Mountains watershed's calcareous-poor geology. The Ouachita River watershed (Lake Catherine) at Hot Springs–Garland County drains: the Ordovician–Pennsylvanian Ouachita Mountains (Arkansas Novaculite — the famous calcareous-poor siliceous novaculite and chert; the Stanley Formation and Jackfork Sandstone — calcareous-poor deep-water turbidite sequences). The highly resistant, calcareous-poor Ouachita Province rocks produce the moderate 82.5 mg/L.
With hardness at 82.5 mg/L, Hot Springs residents enjoy moderately soft water. City of Hot Springs Water Utility consistently delivers water meeting all Arkansas DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita (Ouachita River watershed) via the City of Hot Springs Water Utility — the Garland County central Arkansas Ouachita Mountains (Ordovician–Pennsylvanian calcareous-poor Ouachita Mountains novaculite, chert, and shale — the highly calcareous-poor Arkansas Ouachita Province; Hot Springs supply with minimal softening); moderately soft supply at 82.5 mg/L in Garland County.