McAlester Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
629.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.74
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 McAlester, your appliances are currently losing 37% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In McAlester | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -72% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How McAlester compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ McAlester, Oklahoma | 277 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Muskogee, Oklahoma | 80.5 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Ada, Oklahoma | 232 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Bixby, Oklahoma | 125 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Glenpool, Oklahoma | 330 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How McAlester compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ McAlester | 277 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes McAlester's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
McAlester, Oklahoma, in Pittsburg County — the Pittsburg County seat adjacent to Krebs and Hartshorne in southeast Oklahoma, a historic coal-mining city (the McAlester-Hartshorne coal field) in the Ouachita Mountain foothills — receives its municipal water from the McAlester Water Division, drawing from McAlester Lake (Gaines Creek watershed, Pittsburg County) through the municipal treatment plant.
The very hard 277 mg/L hardness and TDS of 629.2 mg/L are higher than expected for an Ouachita Mountain watershed (which should be soft-to-moderate from the insoluble Paleozoic chert and sandstone), suggesting that the McAlester supply accesses a combination of the Ouachita foothills drainage and the Gulf Coastal Plain calcareous formations to the south. The Cretaceous Woodbine Formation (calcareous sandstone) and Pennsylvanian McAlester Formation (calcareous shale-coal) may contribute the elevated hardness, along with possible evaporite contributions from the Permian Basin margin.
At 277 mg/L with TDS 629, McAlester's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly in all appliances and plumbing systems. The PFAS level of 5.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (Pittsburg County — a major US Army facility with AFFF fire suppression systems in the Gaines Creek watershed), and the southeast Oklahoma industrial corridor contribute to McAlester's readings.
Geology & Source: McAlester in Pittsburg County draws from the McAlester Water Division on McAlester Lake (Gaines Creek, Pittsburg County) — Gaines Creek drains the Ouachita Mountains (Pennsylvanian Hartshorne Sandstone) and the Gulf Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Woodbine Formation calcareous) — Oklahoma Ouachita foothills Cretaceous calcareous drainage produces very hard water at 277 mg/L with TDS 629 mg/L in this Pittsburg County Oklahoma city.