How does Jacksonville's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Jacksonville (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Jacksonville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

6.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

335.6 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · 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 Jacksonville, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Jacksonville	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Jacksonville compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Jacksonville, Arkansas	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Sherwood, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	4.2 ppt	🟢 Soft	river
Cabot, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 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 Jacksonville compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Jacksonville	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Jacksonville's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 335.6 mg/LpH: 6.2

Jacksonville Waterworks is the public water system serving approximately 30,481 residents across Jacksonville and Sherwood in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The utility draws all its supply from twelve wells tapping the Quaternary System Aquifer, a shallow groundwater source. Water is treated at wellheads or entry points before distribution; there are no surface water intakes. Contact the utility at 501-982-1088 or the 24/7 emergency line at 501-982-6561; mailing address P.O. Box 126, Jacksonville, AR 72078.

Though situated within the Arkansas River watershed, the supply is shaped by local Quaternary geology rather than direct river influence. The Quaternary System Aquifer comprises unconsolidated sands, gravels, and clays from Pleistocene and Holocene fluvial deposits, overlying Tertiary and Cretaceous formations. This shallow, clastic-dominated aquifer produces soft water due to limited rock-water interaction in non-carbonate sediments and shorter mineral residence times compared to deeper limestone aquifers, resulting in minimally mineralised groundwater chemistry.

As a soft water supply, Jacksonville's water causes no scale buildup or spotting on fixtures, dishes, or glassware. Appliances like water heaters, coffee makers, and dishwashers face minimal mineral deposits, extending lifespan without intervention. No water softener is needed; soap and detergent efficiency is high. The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report shows no MCL violations; PFAS monitoring shows no compounds above EPA health-based guidelines; lead and copper rule compliance is maintained; and treatment involves standard disinfection — likely chlorination — with water sources having undergone Arkansas Department of Health vulnerability assessments.

Geology & Source: Quaternary System Aquifer, twelve wells — unconsolidated Pleistocene-Holocene alluvial sands, gravels, silts, and clays; minimal carbonate contact and short residence times yield soft, low-mineral groundwater

Other Arkansas Water Reports

Sherwood

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Cabot

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

North Little Rock

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Little Rock

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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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 Jacksonville's water safe to drink?

Yes. Jacksonville's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Jacksonville compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Jacksonville (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 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 Jacksonville 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.