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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Zachary (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Zachary Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

209 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Zachary, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Zachary	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Zachary compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Zachary, Louisiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Baker, Louisiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Central, Louisiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Baton Rouge, Louisiana	8.3 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Denham Springs, Louisiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Zachary compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Zachary	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Zachary's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 209 mg/LpH: 8

Zachary Water System (PWSID: LA1033030) serves the community of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The utility operates treatment facilities drawing from both surface water sources — the Mississippi River alluvial system — and groundwater aquifers underlying the parish. The system's service area encompasses the Zachary municipality and surrounding East Baton Rouge communities, with compliance monitored and reported annually to the Louisiana Department of Health.

The watershed lies within the Mississippi River alluvial plain, characterized by Quaternary alluvial deposits rich in silts and clays overlying Tertiary-age sand and clay formations. Deeper aquifer zones contain limestone and dolomite strata that contribute dissolved minerals to the water supply. This geological setting produces moderately mineralized water typical of south-central Louisiana, with moderate levels of calcium and magnesium hardness-causing ions.

At the moderately hard level, Zachary residents may observe scale buildup in kettles, water heaters, and showerheads over time. Soap and detergent efficiency is slightly reduced, though most household appliances tolerate this hardness without immediate problems. Water heater maintenance and periodic descaling are advisable; many residents choose point-of-use or whole-house softening systems for improved lather and appliance longevity. The Louisiana Department of Health's 2024 Water Grade assessment scored the system 85/100, confirming compliance with EPA standards and all tested contaminants within safe levels.

Geology & Source: Mississippi River alluvial aquifer, East Baton Rouge Parish; Quaternary alluvial deposits over Tertiary sand and clay — limestone and dolomite strata in deeper Tertiary sequence yield moderate hardness

Other Louisiana Water Reports

Baker

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Central

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Baton Rouge

8.3 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Denham Springs

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Zachary's water safe to drink?

Yes. Zachary's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Zachary?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Zachary's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Zachary compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Zachary (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 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 Zachary 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.