Water hardness in Porto Alegre
24 mg/L soft
Tap water in Porto Alegre is soft: 24 mg/L (1.4 gpg · 1.3 °dH · 2.4 °fH).
Source: Ministério da Saúde, SISAGUA – controle semestral (Departamento Municipal De Agua E Esgotos Dmae), CC BY-ND 3.0 (2026) · data checked 2026-10-20
Range across supply zones: 19–41 mg/L.
Porto Alegre's municipal utility DMAE pumps raw water from Lake Guaíba at five points, plus one intake on the Jacuí River for the islands, and treats it in six plants. Records for 2026 give a median of 23.9 mg/L CaCO₃, with individual results from 19.2 to 40.7 mg/L. Limescale is rarely a problem at this level, and descaling the kettle is seldom necessary.
Portaria GM/MS nº 888/2021 sets a maximum of 300 mg/L CaCO₃ for total hardness (dureza total); operators report it in mg/L to SISAGUA.
Water data
| Total hardness | 24 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Utility | Departamento Municipal De Agua E Esgotos Dmae |
How Porto Alegre compares
- Tap water in Porto Alegre is 44 % softer than the median of the 1915 cities we track in Brazil (43 mg/L).
- By hardness it ranks 1467 of 1915 in Brazil (1 = hardest); 23 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Rio Grande do Sul it is number 240 of 244 cities; the regional median is 60 mg/L.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Novo Hamburgo, 38 km away (14 mg/L).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Canoas, 13 km away (34 mg/L).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Brazil →
What it means at home
- Little or no limescale in kettles, water heaters or washing machines.
- Soap lathers easily; water does not dry skin or hair.
- Dishwasher: salt setting at minimum or off.
- No softener needed; a jug filter only changes taste.
How much salt will you use for softening?
No. Water this soft does not need softening.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 6 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Porto Alegre
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 1 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 1 |
| Beko | 1st |
| Hoover | S0 |
| LG | H0 |
From each brand's manual for the model family named in the source; your model may differ, so check its manual. All brands and how to change the setting →
FAQ
Is Porto Alegre water hard or soft?
It is soft: 24 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1.4 gpg, 1.3 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Porto Alegre safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. Portaria GM/MS nº 888/2021 sets a maximum of 300 mg/L CaCO₃ for total hardness (dureza total); operators report it in mg/L to SISAGUA.
How many grains per gallon is Porto Alegre water?
1.4 gpg, equal to 1.3 °dH, 2.4 °fH or 24 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Porto Alegre?
For 24 mg/L (1.3 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Porto Alegre?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: Ministério da Saúde, SISAGUA – controle semestral (Departamento Municipal De Agua E Esgotos Dmae), CC BY-ND 3.0 (2026). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Ministério da Saúde, SISAGUA – controle semestral (Departamento Municipal De Agua E Esgotos Dmae), CC BY-ND 3.0 · Outdated figure? Tell us