Poplar Bluff Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
167.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
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 Poplar Bluff, your appliances are currently losing 14% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Poplar Bluff | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -27% |
| Washing Machine | 9.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -18% |
| Water Heater | 11.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Poplar Bluff compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poplar Bluff, Missouri | 102.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Paragould, Arkansas | 53.5 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🟢 Soft | river |
| Sikeston, Missouri | 254 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Blytheville, Arkansas | 74.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Jackson, Missouri | 170.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Poplar Bluff compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Poplar Bluff | 102.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Poplar Bluff's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Poplar Bluff, Missouri, in Butler County — the Butler County seat adjacent to Dexter and Doniphan on the Black River in the southeast Missouri Ozarks — receives its municipal water from the Poplar Bluff Water Division, drawing from the Black River at the Poplar Bluff intake (Butler County) through the city treatment plant.
The moderately soft 102.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 167.1 mg/L reflect the southeast Missouri Ozarks' mixed crystalline-carbonate supply. The Black River drains the Ozark Dome — Precambrian St. Francois Mountains granite and rhyolite (insoluble crystalline — the core of the Missouri Ozarks, primary softness contributor), Cambrian Gasconade Dolomite (minor carbonate contribution), and the southeast Missouri Ozark Plateaus (Ordovician-Silurian limestone on the flanks). The Precambrian crystalline core dominance produces the moderately soft Ozark river supply.
At 102.5 mg/L, Poplar Bluff's water is moderately soft — light scale forms slowly in appliances, dishwashers remain efficient, and bathroom fixtures need only occasional cleaning. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.7 ppt is relatively low — the Butler County rural southeast Missouri Ozarks setting, limited industrial PFAS sources in the Black River watershed, and the remote Ozark upland headwaters produce Poplar Bluff's low PFAS profile.
Geology & Source: Poplar Bluff in Butler County draws from the Poplar Bluff Water Division on the Black River (Butler County, Missouri Ozarks) — the Black drains the Ozark Dome (Precambrian St. Francois granite, Cambrian Gasconade dolomite) — Missouri Butler County Black River Ozark watershed produces moderately soft water at 102.5 mg/L with TDS 167.1 mg/L in this Butler County Missouri city.