How does El Reno's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. El Reno (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

El Reno Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

938 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · 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 El Reno, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In El Reno	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How El Reno compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ El Reno, Oklahoma	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Yukon, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Mustang, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Bethany, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	58.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Warr Acres, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How El Reno compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ El Reno	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes El Reno's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 938 mg/LpH: 8.1

The City of El Reno, Oklahoma, is served by the El Reno Municipal Water Company, which draws water from shallow groundwater wells approximately 50 feet deep located north of the North Canadian River in Canadian County. The utility operates within the El Reno Basin, a minor groundwater basin in western Oklahoma managed under the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB). The city publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report (most recent: 2023, covering calendar year 2022). Treatment meets Safe Drinking Water Act standards, with ongoing monitoring and treatment optimization to address water quality concerns including reports of discoloration and sediment.

The El Reno Basin is underlain by the El Reno Group formation, a Permian-age sequence of fine-grained sandstone and clay with an average saturated thickness of 250 feet. The geology reflects a depositional environment rich in evaporitic minerals and carbonate rocks. Groundwater is characterized by high concentrations of dissolved solids, sulfate, and calcium/magnesium ions — the regional median TDS is 980 mg/L and median sulfate is 220 mg/L — indicating a highly mineralized aquifer typical of western Oklahoma's Permian Basin geology.

El Reno's supply is very hard, leaving significant mineral deposits on fixtures, reducing soap and detergent effectiveness, causing spotting on dishes and glassware, and damaging water heaters and appliances over time. Residents commonly experience dry skin and hair and buildup on showerheads and faucets. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing infrastructure and improve water quality for bathing and cleaning; regular maintenance of softening systems is essential given the very high mineral content. Specific current data on pH, lead/copper compliance, and any PFAS testing should be verified in the most recent published CCR.

Geology & Source: El Reno Basin; Permian El Reno Group fine-grained sandstone and clay, 250 ft saturated zone — evaporitic and carbonate strata produce very hard water with high TDS (980 mg/L) and sulfate (220 mg/L)

Other Oklahoma Water Reports

Yukon

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Mustang

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bethany

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Warr Acres

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is El Reno's water safe to drink?

Yes. El Reno's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in El Reno?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), El Reno'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 45%.

How does El Reno compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. El Reno (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for El Reno 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.