Is Jonesboro, AR Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, Jonesboro tap water is safe to drink. Hardness is low at 49 PPM, and no contaminants exceed health guidelines. Most homes here don't need treatment.
Hardness Scale: Where Jonesboro Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Jonesboro Compares
Jonesboro's water is 64% softer than the national average of 138 PPM - ranking in the bottom 71% for hardness nationwide. Most homes here do not need a softener. Within Arkansas, it ranks #6 of 13 cities (4% below the state average of 51 PPM). Among cities (50k-100k), Jonesboro ranks #201 of 258 for hardness.
What Jonesboro's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 49 PPM - Low Concern
Jonesboro's water is slightly hard at 49 PPM. Most households won't notice any issues at this level. Scale buildup is minimal, and a water softener would be overkill. If you're thinking about water treatment, contaminant filtration is where to focus your money, not softening.
Contaminants & Safety
Disinfection byproducts are the notable finding here. Jonesboro's water has TTHMs at 7.85 ppb and HAA5 at 1.03 ppb — both within legal limits, but the EWG health guidelines are far stricter. These byproducts form when chlorine reacts with organic matter during treatment. A whole-house activated carbon filter reduces both chlorine and its byproducts. Want the full picture? Request your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
What's in the Treatment Process
Even though Jonesboro draws from groundwater, the treatment process still generates disinfection byproducts: TTHMs at 7.85 ppb and HAA5 at 1.03 ppb. Groundwater typically needs less treatment than surface water, but when organic compounds are present in the aquifer, chlorination creates the same byproducts. All levels are within legal limits, though above the stricter EWG health guidelines.
Chromium-6 is naturally present in Jonesboro's aquifer geology at 0.395 ppb — 20x the EWG health guideline. There's no federal legal limit for chromium-6 specifically (only total chromium), which is why EWG tracks it separately. All measurements are within federal legal limits. The EWG guidelines represent a more conservative, health-based standard.
| Contaminant | Detected | Health Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (as CaCO₃) | 49 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ✓ OK |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 125 PPM | < 300 PPM | 500 PPM | ✓ OK |
| PFAS (total) | 0 ppt | — | No total limit | ✓ ND |
| ↳ PFOA | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| ↳ PFOS | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| Lead | 1 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ✓ Low |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 1 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | 0.792 mg/L | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | ✓ OK |
Good news for Jonesboro residents. Your water quality is generally good. Most homes in this area do not need a water softener. If you have concerns about lead (especially in buildings constructed before 1986) or chlorine taste, a point-of-use filter is the most practical and cost-effective solution.
Quick Fix for Chlorine: Shower Filter
At 1 mg/L chlorine, many Jonesboro residents notice dry skin, brittle hair, and that "pool smell" in the shower. A shower filter installs in 5 minutes, no tools needed.
How to Test Your Water in Jonesboro
City-wide data is a solid starting point, but your specific tap might differ based on plumbing age, distance from the treatment plant, or seasonal changes.
Free option: Request Jonesboro Water Utilities's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
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About Jonesboro's Water Supply
Water Utility: Jonesboro Water Utilities
Water Source: Alluvial aquifer (Groundwater)
Population Served: 79,889
Hardness: 49 PPM (2.9 grains per gallon)
Jonesboro draws its drinking water from groundwater sources — Alluvial aquifer. Groundwater typically requires less treatment than surface water because the earth acts as a natural filter. The tradeoff: dissolved minerals from underground rock formations, which is why mineral content varies by aquifer depth and geology. The geological profile determines hardness, iron, and trace mineral levels. The system serves 80,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request Jonesboro Water Utilities's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or test your own tap.
ZIP Codes Covered by This Report
This water quality data applies to all areas served by Jonesboro Water Utilities in Jonesboro, AR, including ZIP codes:
63638, 63763, 63821, 63822, 63826, 63827, 63829, 63837, 63839, 63840, 63847, 63848, 63849, 63851, 63852, 63853, 63855, 63857, 63863, 63870, 63873, 63874, 63875, 63876, 63877, 63878, 63879, 63880, 63901, 63902, 63931, 63932, 63933, 63935, 63936, 63937, 63938, 63939, 63940, 63941, 63942, 63943, 63944, 63945, 63950, 63952, 63953, 63954, 63955, 63956, 63957, 63960, 63961, 63962, 63965, 63966, 63967, 65438, 65466, 65546, 65588, 65606, 65688, 65690, 65692, 65777, 65778, 65788, 65791, 72005, 72014, 72043, 72075, 72101, 72112, 72165, 72169, 72310, 72315, 72316, 72319, 72321, 72324, 72330, 72347, 72351, 72354, 72365, 72377, 72387, 72391, 72396, 72401, 72402, 72403, 72404, 72405, 72410, 72411, 72412, 72413, 72414, 72415, 72416, 72417, 72419, 72421, 72422, 72424, 72425, 72426, 72427, 72428, 72429, 72430, 72431, 72432, 72433, 72434, 72435, 72436, 72437, 72438, 72440, 72441, 72442, 72443, 72444, 72445, 72447, 72449, 72450, 72451, 72453, 72454, 72455, 72456, 72457, 72458, 72459, 72460, 72461, 72462, 72464, 72465, 72466, 72467, 72469, 72470, 72471, 72472, 72473, 72474, 72475, 72476, 72478, 72479, 72482, 72501, 72503, 72512, 72513, 72515, 72517, 72520, 72521, 72522, 72524, 72525, 72526, 72527, 72529, 72531, 72532, 72536, 72538, 72539, 72542, 72553, 72554, 72556, 72561, 72562, 72564, 72565, 72569, 72571, 72572, 72573, 72575, 72576, 72577, 72578, 72579, 72583, 72584, 72585, 72587
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Compare Jonesboro to Other Arkansas Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Jonesboro Water
Is Jonesboro tap water safe to drink?
Where does Jonesboro's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Jonesboro?
What are disinfection byproducts in Jonesboro's water?
Is chromium-6 in Jonesboro's water?
Why does Jonesboro water taste like chlorine?
Can I drink Jonesboro tap water straight from the faucet?
What water filter is best for Jonesboro?
Data sources: Lead and copper data from EPA Safe Drinking Water Act LCR reporting. Contaminant data from utility-reported testing results. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025). Hardness from USGS and municipal reports. Data reflects system-level testing results and may not match your specific tap due to neighborhood plumbing, season, or recent utility changes. For your utility's latest results, request their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Our methodology. Last updated: 2026-02-24.
What Jonesboro Homeowners Actually Buy
Common purchases for homes with 49 PPM water.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission. Selection based on Jonesboro's water data.