Is Alabama tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 29 % of the 17 cities with published data in Alabama have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 4.6 gpg, from 0.4 gpg in Fairhope to 13.4 gpg in Irondale.
We have published hardness data for 17 cities in Alabama. The median is 4.6 gpg; the hardest water is in Irondale (13.4 gpg), the softest in Fairhope (0.4 gpg).
29 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in Alabama, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irondale | 13.4 | 230 | very hard |
| Pell City | 8.7 | 149 | hard |
| Pelham | 8.1 | 140 | hard |
| Oxford | 7.6 | 130 | hard |
| Russellville | 7.3 | 125 | hard |
| Birmingham | 5.7 | 98 | moderately hard |
| Mountain Brook | 5.7 | 98 | moderately hard |
| Vestavia Hills | 5.7 | 98 | moderately hard |
| Guntersville | 4.6 | 78 | moderately hard |
| Anniston | 4.4 | 76 | moderately hard |
| Mobile | 2.6 | 44 | soft |
| Northport | 2.5 | 42 | soft |
| Montgomery | 2.4 | 41 | soft |
| Daphne | 1.3 | 22 | soft |
| Foley | 0.9 | 16 | soft |
| Ozark | 0.5 | 9 | soft |
| Fairhope | 0.4 | 8 | soft |
FAQ
Is Alabama water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 29 % of the 17 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 4.6 gpg.
Which city in Alabama has the hardest water?
Irondale, at 13.4 gpg, has the hardest water of the 17 cities with published data.
Which city in Alabama has the softest water?
Fairhope, at 0.4 gpg, has the softest water of the 17 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Alabama?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in Alabama the values range from 0.4 gpg to 13.4 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in Alabama by county →