Paragould Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Paragould Municipal Utilities (PMU) provides drinking water to the city of Paragould in Greene County, Arkansas, serving ZIP code 72450 and surrounding areas. The utility operates six wells drawing exclusively from the Wilcox Group and Memphis Sand Aquifers. Water is treated at wellheads or distribution facilities before delivery; no surface water treatment plants are used. PMU manages both water and wastewater services and can be contacted at 870-239-7795 or 870-573-6969. Additional utilities including Western Greene County RWD and St. Francis River Regional Water District serve parts of the surrounding area.

The groundwater originates within the Mississippi Embayment physiographic region, where the Wilcox and Memphis aquifers form a layered system beneath Quaternary alluvium and loess. These Paleogene and Cretaceous sand-dominated formations overlie older Paleozoic basement rocks but are isolated by confining clays, limiting deep mineral interaction. The soft water character results from the predominance of quartz sands over carbonate rocks, yielding low dissolved solids and minimal natural hardness typical of clastic aquifer systems in the Arkansas delta.

As soft water, Paragould's supply poses minimal risk of scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, kettles, or dishwashers, and appliances enjoy extended lifespan without limescale accumulation. Soap lathers efficiently without excess product, and no water softener is required. Routine maintenance focuses on corrosion prevention, as soft water can be slightly aggressive to plumbing; flushing fixtures annually and using phosphate inhibitors if needed helps protect pipes. The 2024 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report confirms compliance with all EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels across over 335 tested parameters, with no violations for lead, copper, or disinfectants.