Russellville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Russellville Water & Sewer Board serves Russellville, Arkansas and surrounding areas in Pope County. The utility draws its drinking water entirely from surface water sources: Illinois Bayou, which feeds Huckleberry Creek Reservoir and Lake Dardanelle. The system has achieved an exceptional compliance record with no drinking water violations reported, providing water that meets federal and state standards for the city and its surrounding communities.

The water supply originates in the Illinois Bayou watershed, draining portions of the Ozark Plateau and its margins. The underlying geology comprises Paleozoic-age carbonate and clastic rock formations, including Ordovician and Devonian limestone and dolomite sequences. These formations naturally dissolve and release calcium and magnesium ions into the water, resulting in a moderately hard supply at 106 mg/L typical of north-central Arkansas surface waters sourced from the Ozark Plateau margin.

At the moderately hard classification, Russellville's water causes some scale buildup in kettles, water heaters, and pipes over time, though less severely than in hard or very hard areas. Dishwashers and washing machines may show reduced efficiency and require more frequent descaling. A water softener is recommended for households with high water usage or sensitive appliances, though it is not essential for health or safety. The 2021 Consumer Confidence Report confirms excellent water quality; iron is measured at 0.30 ppm; lead and copper sampling in 2019 showed all results within acceptable ranges; the system has received recognition for exceptional water quality that reduced required monitoring frequency.