Why does water hardness vary across Mississippi?

Water hardness varies across Mississippi because utilities can use different groundwater wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, blends, and distribution zones. Private wells can also differ from nearby municipal water.

What city in Mississippi has the hardest water?

Stovall has the hardest water among higher-confidence Mississippi city pages at 356 PPM. Check the city page for local systems and ZIP codes before making treatment decisions.

Does this include municipal water, well water, or both?

The state report combines public water system records, utility reports, and USGS monitoring where available. Municipal treated-water records are preferred when present. Private well hardness can vary at the address level and should be confirmed with a local test.

How many water systems are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has 1,012 active community water systems serving 374 cities.

Water Hardness in Mississippi

Average: 84 PPMSlightly Hard374 cities1,012 water systems

State report

Is Mississippi Water Hard or Soft?

Mississippi water is slightly hard on average at 84 PPM (4.9 GPG). Local readings can vary by utility, aquifer, treatment plant, and private well use.

State average

84 PPM

Slightly Hard

Local coverage

374 cities

1,012 water systems

Source profile

256 ZIPs

direct or USGS-backed

Mississippi has mixed source coverage across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Methodology Data sources Search by ZIP code

State data profile

How to read the Mississippi results

State pages are screening and comparison hubs. They summarize ZIP, city, and water-system patterns so you can find the local page that best matches your home or utility.

Direct or USGS-backed ZIPs

256 of 404

63% use treated-water records or USGS monitoring.

Estimated ZIP values

148 ZIPs

37% use nearby, county, or state-level fallback values.

Dataset update

March 9, 2026

Source coverage and rollups are rebuilt from the public dataset.

Use the source coverage below to judge how much local confirmation a specific city or ZIP needs. The methodology page explains the source hierarchy, weighting, and limitations.

State Average

84 PPM

Slightly Hard

Coverage

374 cities

1,012 water systems in the state rollup.

Data Source Coverage

ZIP-level source mix for Mississippi; higher direct and USGS coverage means less reliance on regional estimates.

404 ZIPs covered

Verified treated water

Utility, CCR, or state treated-water records

16%

65 ZIPs

High-confidence USGS

Environmental monitoring matched to local systems

47%

191 ZIPs

Estimated

Nearby, county, or state-level fallback values

37%

148 ZIPs

In Mississippi, 16% of ZIPs use verified treated-water records, 47% use high-confidence USGS monitoring, and 37% use estimates that should be confirmed locally for treatment decisions.

What the Data Shows in Mississippi

Most classified ZIPs in Mississippi are below the hard-water threshold, though local systems can still vary.

Mississippi uses a mixed data profile across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Use the city table below to compare local results. For estimated locations or unusually high readings, confirm with your utility or a home hardness test before sizing treatment equipment.

ZIP Hardness Distribution

Soft69% (277)

Slightly Hard11% (46)

Moderately Hard4% (16)

Hard5% (20)

Very Hard11% (45)

Treatment Takeaway

Hardness treatment is less likely to be needed statewide, but local water systems can still differ from the state pattern. Test first if you see scale or spotting.

How to Use This Data

Use the source coverage above to decide how much local confirmation you need for a specific city or ZIP code.

Source-Backed Water Systems in Mississippi

Large systems with treated-water reports or USGS monitoring behind the state rollup.

Review source labels

Water system	Hardness	Source label	Population
City Of Jackson MS0250008 - Hinds County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	189,673
City Of Gulfport MS0240003 - Harrison County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	75,056
City Of Southaven MS0170018 - Desoto County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	56,000
City Of Olive Branch MS0170015 - Desoto County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	54,025
City Of Hattiesburg MS0180008 - Forrest County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	43,449
City Of Jackson-Maddox Rd. MS0250012 - Hinds County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	28,098
City Of Clinton MS0250003 - Hinds County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	25,000
City Of Biloxi MS0240001 - Harrison County	30 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	23,310

Useful Mississippi City Pages

Shortcuts to city pages backed by more ZIP-code or water-system data.

Cities With More Local Data

Slightly Hard (67 PPM)

Prioritize cities with multiple ZIPs and systems, then use the local source badges to compare high-confidence USGS readings against estimated areas.

Top 10 Hardest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Stovall	Very Hard (356 PPM)
2	Redwood	Very Hard (347 PPM)
3	Vicksburg	Very Hard (302 PPM)
4	Belzoni	Very Hard (274 PPM)
5	Elizabeth	Hard (241 PPM)
6	Greenwood	Hard (237 PPM)
7	Itta Bena	Hard (237 PPM)
8	Yazoo City	Hard (227 PPM)
9	Greenville	Hard (208 PPM)
10	Pascagoula	Moderately Hard (179 PPM)

Top 10 Softest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Picayune	Soft (3 PPM)
2	Carriere	Soft (3 PPM)
3	Poplarville	Soft (3 PPM)
4	Wiggins	Soft (3 PPM)
5	Kiln	Soft (5 PPM)
6	Prentiss	Soft (5 PPM)
7	Pelahatchie	Soft (7 PPM)
8	Richland	Soft (7 PPM)
9	Pearl	Soft (7 PPM)
10	Florence	Soft (7 PPM)

All Cities in Mississippi

City pages marked Estimated use fallback values and should be confirmed with local testing or utility data.

AbbevilleSoft AberdeenSoft AckermanSoft AgricolaSoft AlligatorVery Hard AmorySoft AnguillaVery Hard ArcolaHard ArtesiaSoft AskewSoft AvonHard BaileySoft BairdVery Hard BaldwynModerately Hard BannerSoft BassfieldSoft BatesvilleSoft Bay SpringsSoft BeaumontSoft BeldenSlightly Hard BelmontSlightly Hard BelzoniVery Hard BenoitSoft BentonHard BentoniaHard BeulahSoft Big CreekSoft BiloxiSoft Blue MountainSlightly Hard Blue SpringsModerately Hard Bogue ChittoSoft BoltonSoft BoonevilleModerately Hard BoyleSoft BrandonSoft BraxtonSoft BrookhavenSoft BrooklynSoft BrooksvilleSoft BruceSoft BuckatunnaSoft BudeVery Hard BurnsvilleModerately Hard ByhaliaSoft CaledoniaSoft Calhoun CitySoft CamdenSoft CannonSoft CantonSoft CarriereSoft CarrolltonSoft CarsonSoft CarySoft CascillaSoft CedarbluffSoft CentrevilleVery Hard CharlestonSoft ChunkySoft ClevelandSoft ClintonSoft CoahomaVery Hard CoffeevilleSoft CoilaSoft ColdwaterSoft CollinsSoft CollinsvilleSoft ColumbiaSoft ColumbusSoft ComoSoft ConehattaSoft CourtlandSoft CrawfordSoft CrosbyVery Hard CrowderSoft CrugerHard Crystal SpringsSoft D LoSoft DalevilleSoft DarlingVery Hard De KalbSoft DecaturSoft Delta CityVery Hard DennisSlightly Hard DiamondheadSoft DoddsvilleHard DrewVery Hard Duck HillSlightly Hard DumasSlightly Hard DuncanSoft DundeeSoft DurantSlightly Hard EcruSlightly Hard EdinburgSoft EdwardsSoft EgyptSlightly Hard ElizabethHard EllisvilleSoft EnidSoft EnterpriseSoft EthelSoft EttaSoft FalknerSlightly Hard FayetteVery Hard FernwoodSoft FloraSoft FlorenceSoft ForestSlightly Hard FoxworthSoft French CampSoft Friars PointVery Hard FultonSlightly Hard GattmanSoft GautierModerately Hard GeorgetownSoft GlenModerately Hard Glen AllanHard GlendoraSlightly Hard GlosterVery Hard GoldenSlightly Hard GoodmanSlightly Hard Gore SpringsSoft GraceSoft GreenvilleHard GreenwoodHard Greenwood SpringSoft GrenadaSoft GulfportSoft GunnisonSoft GuntownSlightly Hard HamiltonSoft HarrisvilleSoft HattiesburgSoft HazlehurstSoft HeidelbergSoft HermanvilleVery Hard HernandoSoft HickorySoft Hickory FlatSoft HolcombSoft Holly BluffSoft Holly SpringsSoft Horn LakeSoft HoulkaSlightly Hard HoustonSlightly Hard InvernessVery Hard IsolaVery Hard Itta BenaHard JacksonSoft JayessSoft JonestownVery Hard KilmichaelSoft KilnSoft KokomoSoft KosciuskoSoft KossuthModerately Hard KreoleModerately Hard LafayetteSoft LakeSlightly Hard Lake CormorantSoft LamarSoft LambertVery Hard LauderdaleSoft LaurelSoft LawrenceSoft LeafSoft LeakesvilleSoft LearnedSoft LenaSoft LexingtonSlightly Hard LibertyModerately Hard Little RockSoft Long BeachSoft LormanVery Hard LouinSlightly Hard LouiseVery Hard LouisvilleSoft LulaVery Hard LumbertonSoft LyonVery Hard MabenSoft MaconSoft MadisonSoft MageeSoft MagnoliaSoft MantachieSlightly Hard ManteeSoft MariettaModerately Hard MarksVery Hard MathervilleSoft MathistonSoft MayersvilleSoft Mc Call CreekSoft Mc CarleySoft Mc CombSoft Mc CoolSoft Mc HenrySoft MeadvilleVery Hard MendenhallSoft MeridianSoft MerigoldSoft MetcalfeHard Michigan CitySoft MidnightSoft Minter CityHard Mississippi StatSoft MizeSoft MonticelloSoft MoorevilleSlightly Hard MoorheadVery Hard Morgan CityHard MortonSoft MoselleSoft Moss PointModerately Hard Mound BayouSoft Mount OliveSoft MyrtleSoft NatchezSoft NeelySoft NesbitSoft NettletonSlightly Hard New AlbanySlightly Hard New AugustaSoft New SiteModerately Hard NewhebronSoft NewtonSlightly Hard North BaySoft North CarrolltonSoft NoxapaterSoft Oak ValeSoft OaklandSoft Ocean SpringsModerately Hard Olive BranchSoft OsykaSoft OvettSoft PaceSoft PachutaSoft Panther BurnSoft ParchmanVery Hard PascagoulaModerately Hard Pass ChristianSoft PattisonVery Hard PauldingSoft PearlSoft PearlingtonSoft PelahatchieSoft PercyHard PerkinstonSoft PetalSoft PhebaSoft PhiladelphiaSoft PhilippSlightly Hard PicayuneSoft PickensSoft Piney WoodsSoft PinolaSoft PittsboroSoft PlantersvilleSlightly Hard PontotocSlightly Hard PopeSoft PoplarvilleSoft Port GibsonVery Hard PortervilleSoft Potts CampSoft PrairieSoft PrentissSoft PrestonSoft PulaskiSoft PurvisSoft QuitmanSoft RaleighSoft Red BanksSoft RedwoodVery Hard Rena LaraVery Hard RichlandSoft RichtonSoft RidgelandSoft RienziModerately Hard RipleySlightly Hard RobinsonvilleSoft Rolling ForkSoft RomeVery Hard Rose HillSoft RosedaleSoft RoxieVery Hard RulevilleVery Hard RuthSoft SallisSoft SaltilloSlightly Hard SandersvilleSoft Sandy HookSoft SardisSoft SareptaSoft SatartiaVery Hard SaucierSoft SavageSoft SchlaterHard ScobeySoft ScoobaSoft ScottSoft SebastopolSlightly Hard SeminarySoft SenatobiaSoft SessumsSoft ShannonSlightly Hard ShawSoft ShelbySoft ShermanSlightly Hard ShuqualakSoft SidonHard Silver CityVery Hard Silver CreekSoft SledgeSoft SmithdaleVery Hard SmithvilleSoft SontagSoft SosoSoft SouthavenSoft State LineSoft SteensSoft StewartSoft StonewallSoft StovallVery Hard StringerSoft SturgisSoft SummitSoft SumnerVery Hard SumrallSoft SunflowerVery Hard TaylorSoft TaylorsvilleSoft TchulaSlightly Hard TerrySoft ThaxtonSlightly Hard TillatobaSoft TiplersvilleSlightly Hard TippoSoft TishomingoSlightly Hard TomnolenSoft ToomsubaSoft TougalooSoft TremontSoft TunicaSlightly Hard TupeloSlightly Hard TutwilerVery Hard TylertownSoft UnionSoft Union ChurchVery Hard UniversitySoft UticaSoft VaidenSoft Valley ParkSoft VanceSoft VardamanSoft VeronaSlightly Hard VicksburgVery Hard VossburgSoft WallsSoft WalnutSlightly Hard Walnut GroveSlightly Hard WalthallSoft Water ValleySoft WaterfordSoft WavelandSoft WaynesboroSoft WebbSlightly Hard WeirSoft WessonSoft WestSoft West PointSoft WigginsSoft WinonaSoft WoodlandSoft WoodvilleVery Hard Yazoo CityHard