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

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

Jonesboro Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

6.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

476.8 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 Jonesboro, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Jonesboro	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 Jonesboro compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Jonesboro, Arkansas	≈ 0–59 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Paragould, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Kennett, Missouri	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Blytheville, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Marion, Arkansas	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Jonesboro compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Jonesboro	≈ 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 Jonesboro's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 476.8 mg/LpH: 6.7

Jonesboro City Water & Light serves approximately 79,839 people across four Arkansas cities — Jonesboro, Bono, Brookland, and Lake City — in Craighead County. The utility operates 37 production wells: 13 drawing from the Alluvial Aquifers and 24 from the deeper Memphis Aquifers. Water is treated at a facility located off Britt Drive at Jonesboro's west end and distributed throughout the service area. No surface reservoirs or rivers serve as primary sources; the system relies entirely on groundwater from these two aquifer systems.

The water supply originates from two distinct aquifer systems within the Mississippi Embayment. The Alluvial Aquifers consist of unconsolidated sand, silt, and gravel deposits of Quaternary age, while the Memphis Aquifers are Tertiary-age formations composed primarily of sand and gravel. Both systems yield soft water due to their sandy composition and the naturally acidic groundwater environment characteristic of these formations, which limits mineral dissolution and results in minimal dissolved calcium and magnesium.

Soft water in Jonesboro means reduced soap scum, minimal scale buildup in pipes and water heaters, and lower appliance maintenance costs; a water softener is not necessary for hardness control. Soft water can be slightly corrosive to certain metal pipes, managed through the utility's corrosion control treatment program. Per the 2026 water quality report, all EPA MCLGs are met with a quality score of 100/100 and zero violations; lead was not detected, fluoride averages 0.88 ppm, and no PFAS contamination has been reported.

Geology & Source: 37 production wells — Alluvial Aquifers (Quaternary sands/silt/gravel) and Memphis Aquifers (Tertiary sand/gravel); Mississippi Embayment sandy geology with acidic groundwater limits mineral dissolution, yielding a soft supply

Other Arkansas Water Reports

Paragould

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Kennett

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Blytheville

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Marion

≈ 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 Jonesboro's water safe to drink?

Yes. Jonesboro'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 Jonesboro?

Jonesboro'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 Jonesboro compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Jonesboro (≈ 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 Jonesboro 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.