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

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

Brookhaven Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.001 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

85.9 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 Brookhaven, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Brookhaven	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 Brookhaven compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Brookhaven, Mississippi	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
McComb, Mississippi	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Byram, Mississippi	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Pearl, Mississippi	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Jackson, Mississippi	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Brookhaven compares to the USA average

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

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Brookhaven home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Brookhaven's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 85.9 mg/LpH: 7.2

The City of Brookhaven Water Department draws its supply from 9 production wells, all tapping the Miocene series within the Citronella formation. This groundwater-only system serves around 12,880 residents in Lincoln County, Mississippi. The utility's main office is located at 301 S 1st St, Brookhaven, MS 39601, and they can be reached at 601-833-7721 for any inquiries regarding the water supply.

The water originates from the Miocene-age Citronella formation, a geological sequence of sandstone and clay deposits characteristic of southern Mississippi's subsurface. As groundwater percolates through this formation, it picks up calcium and magnesium minerals, naturally contributing to the hardness of the water supply. This formation's depth and geological makeup offer good protection against contamination, making it a reliable aquifer for the city's needs.

Expect mineral buildup in your appliances and pipes over time due to this hard water. You might notice that soap doesn't lather as effectively, and scale can form on faucets and showerheads, potentially shortening the lifespan of water-using appliances. Installing a water softener is a good idea for most households to combat these issues and cut down on maintenance. The City of Brookhaven's 2024 report confirms their drinking water meets all safety standards, though potential contaminants like inorganic mercury have been noted.

Geology & Source: Miocene-age sandstone and clay; Citronella formation contains dissolved calcium and magnesium, producing hard water.

Other Mississippi Water Reports

McComb

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Byram

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Pearl

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Jackson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

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 Brookhaven's water safe to drink?

Yes. Brookhaven'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 Brookhaven?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Brookhaven'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 Brookhaven compare to the USA average?

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