Moore Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Moore, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County immediately south of Oklahoma City — a major southern Oklahoma City suburb that suffered some of the most destructive EF5 tornadoes in US history (including the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado and 2013 Moore tornado) — draws its municipal water supply from the North Canadian River (Lake Hefner and Arcadia Lake) via the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, distributed to Moore through the City of Moore Water Department. Water hardness in Moore measures 351.5 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.

Moore's extremely hard supply reflects central Oklahoma's Permian red bed geology. The North Canadian River above Oklahoma City drains the Permian Garber Sandstone and Wellington Formation (calcareous Permian red bed sandstone and shale — highly reactive calcareous evaporite-associated formations of the Anadarko Basin), the Permian Hennessey Group (calcareous red siltstone and shale), and the Central Oklahoma Permian red bed sequence (calcareous gypsum-bearing formations from the Permian evaporite facies). Oklahoma's Permian red bed geology is exceptionally calcareous — the gypsum (CaSO4) and carbonate dissolution from the Permian Garber–Wellington sequence contributes substantial dissolved calcium. Moore and the greater Oklahoma City metro consistently record among the highest hardness levels in the central US.

At 351.5 mg/L, Moore residents face severe hard water challenges. Scale forms within hours on all surfaces and fixtures — weekly to daily descaling is necessary. Water heaters fail prematurely without professional descaling. City of Moore Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all Oklahoma DEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.