| Key Takeaway:
Arizona’s water is hard because it comes largely from groundwater and the Colorado River, both mineral-rich sources—and no Arizona city tests as “soft.” That buildup affects your skin, hair, and appliances, but softening and filtration can fix it. |
Hardness 101: What Arizona Homeowners Need to Know About Hard Water
If you’ve been a resident of Arizona for any amount of time, you’re almost surely aware that Arizona has notoriously hard water. But what does that actually mean?
What Is Hard Water?
Water hardness refers to the amount of dissolved minerals found in water—most prominently calcium and magnesium.
Why Is Arizona Water So Hard?
According to the University of Arizona, the state’s primary water sources are groundwater, the Colorado River, in-state rivers, and reclaimed water—with groundwater making up 41% and the Colorado River making up 36%. All of these sources pass through areas with high mineral concentrations, and those minerals dissolve into the water through erosion along the way.
Want to explore Arizona’s water sources with us?
How Is Water Hardness Measured?
Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG). At Clean H2O PRO'S, we think of it as a scale from 0 to 10:
| GPG | Level | What it means for your home |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Good | Little to no impact |
| 2–3 | Nuisance | Spots and buildup on nearly everything |
| 4–5 | Hard | Buildup and scale on faucets, showers, and toilets |
| 6–7 | Very hard | Can damage pipes and plumbing, and may void appliance warranties |
| 8–10 | Extreme | Severe scale, the highest risk to your plumbing and appliances |
You’ll also see hardness reported in milligrams of minerals per liter (mg/L). As a rule of thumb, 1 GPG is about 17 mg/L. By one common mg/L scale, below 60 is soft, 61–120 is moderate, 121–180 is hard, and over 180 is very hard. According to Aquatell’s measurements, there isn’t a single Arizona city with soft water, and an overwhelming number fall into the very hard range.
Want to see how hard your city’s water is? Click here.
Why Should You Care?
Hard water affects multiple areas of daily life:
- Your appliances and infrastructure: Hard water creates mineral buildup (scale) on appliances and plumbing. That buildup leads to increased energy usage, less efficient appliances, and a shorter lifespan for water heaters, dishwashers, and more.
- Your skin and hair: Showering in hard water leaves mineral buildup on your skin and hair, which can dry both out—a real problem in the Arizona summer heat.
What Can You Do?
The easiest way to combat hard water is through softening and filtration. Clean H2O PRO'S offers a host of water solutions built specifically for Arizona’s water.
Ready to find out what your water hardness levels are? Give us a call at 480-486-8018.
