Is Louisiana tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 13 % of the 8 cities with published data in Louisiana have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 4.7 gpg, from 0.6 gpg in Denham Springs to 8.1 gpg in New Orleans.
We have published hardness data for 8 cities in Louisiana. The median is 4.7 gpg; the hardest water is in New Orleans (8.1 gpg), the softest in Denham Springs (0.6 gpg).
13 % 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 Louisiana, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 8.1 | 139 | hard |
| Carencro | 5.7 | 98 | moderately hard |
| Opelousas | 5.3 | 92 | moderately hard |
| Gretna | 4.8 | 81 | moderately hard |
| Lake Charles | 4.7 | 80 | moderately hard |
| Baton Rouge | 3 | 52 | soft |
| Minden | 0.7 | 12 | soft |
| Denham Springs | 0.6 | 10 | soft |
FAQ
Is Louisiana water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 13 % of the 8 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 4.7 gpg.
Which city in Louisiana has the hardest water?
New Orleans, at 8.1 gpg, has the hardest water of the 8 cities with published data.
Which city in Louisiana has the softest water?
Denham Springs, at 0.6 gpg, has the softest water of the 8 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana the values range from 0.6 gpg to 8.1 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in Louisiana by county →