Georgia Water Hardness by County

Water in Georgia has a median hardness of 24.4 mg/L as CaCO₃ — "soft" on the USGS scale — based on 92,696 measurements at 5,238 monitoring stations. Glynn County has the state's hardest measured water (230 mg/L); Towns County the softest (3.6). Rank: #46 of the 50 states and D.C.

Georgia water hardness map — what the numbers mean. Data verified 2026-07-22.

Of Georgia's 159 measured counties, 1 very hard, 2 hard, 10 moderately hard, and 146 soft. The hardest are Glynn County (230 mg/L), McIntosh County (148), and Catoosa County (127). Towns County is the softest at 3.6 mg/L (soft).

About 2% of Georgia's roughly 10.8 million residents in counties with gate-passing hardness data live where tap water is hard or worse.

Statewide, Georgia's median works out to 1.4 grains per gallon and ranks #46 of the 50 states and D.C. Across 92,696 measurements at 5,238 stations — 74,825 of them since 2000 — the middle 80% of readings fall between 9 and 110 mg/L. The public record runs from 1906 to 2026.

See where Georgia sits nationally on the national map, or what its number means on the hardness scale.

Download the Georgia water hardness map (PNG) — Water hardness by county in Georgia: 159 counties mapped from USGS/EPA data, statewide median 24.4 mg/L (soft); darker counties have harder water.

By county

Water hardness by county

The table lists all 159 measured Georgia counties, hardest first. Their medians span 230 mg/L in Glynn County to 3.6 in Towns County — a 63.9× range.

County water hardness, hardest first — median mg/L as CaCO₃.
CountyMedianBandResultsSitesNewest
Glynn County230Very hard4,5421422026
McIntosh County148Hard414522025
Catoosa County127Hard1,002252026
Mitchell County110.5Moderately hard58232023
Chattooga County110Moderately hard1,555522026
Polk County110Moderately hard474242024
Walker County110Moderately hard423562025
Miller County100Moderately hard164322023
Chatham County97.9Moderately hard1,147932026
Camden County73Moderately hard6321032025
Coffee County73Moderately hard486352026
Whitfield County64Moderately hard1,902472026
Dade County62Moderately hard177232023
Floyd County53Soft2,180532026
Gordon County50Soft1,740682026
Dooly County49Soft130372026
Thomas County47Soft483502025
Baker County45Soft697262026
Colquitt County45Soft356782024
Lowndes County45Soft8051742026
Bleckley County44.5Soft3682026
Decatur County41Soft1,385742026
Bartow County38Soft1,680562026
Liberty County36.1Soft883532020
Wilkes County35Soft260252026
Clayton County34Soft252192026
Dougherty County34Soft1,2341352026
Grady County33Soft698282026
Henry County33Soft456212026
Jeff Davis County33Soft455102026
Cook County32.5Soft210382023
Sumter County32.5Soft653852026
Brooks County32Soft504382026
Jones County32Soft679302026
Taliaferro County32Soft85142026
Jasper County31.1Soft228212025
Long County29.5Soft256152026
Fulton County29.3Soft5,2371232026
Ben Hill County29Soft106172025
Dodge County29Soft43112026
Paulding County29Soft139222026
Pulaski County29Soft415152026
Cobb County28.9Soft964682026
DeKalb County28.9Soft2,871812025
Treutlen County28.8Soft4492017
Calhoun County28Soft139212026
Seminole County28Soft637282026
Turner County28Soft135392023
Wilcox County28Soft101132026
Irwin County27.5Soft141242025
Jenkins County27.5Soft109162026
Jackson County27.1Soft352312025
Tift County27Soft362422026
Bulloch County26Soft652412026
Douglas County26Soft1,133252026
Early County26Soft273372025
Screven County26Soft611382025
Twiggs County25.5Soft64292018
Burke County25Soft203312025
Fayette County25Soft580212026
Johnson County25Soft77172025
Wilkinson County25Soft293582024
Bacon County24Soft220172026
Barrow County24Soft166172025
Crisp County24Soft223282026
Laurens County24Soft672442026
Oconee County24Soft537182026
Troup County24Soft1,682362026
Franklin County23.9Soft203202025
Appling County23.7Soft238262022
Atkinson County23Soft83112023
Berrien County23Soft205242024
Coweta County23Soft295272026
Emanuel County23Soft108222022
Putnam County23Soft597282026
Bryan County22Soft373252025
Chattahoochee County22Soft209122026
Cherokee County22Soft2,157342026
Clay County22Soft319132026
Crawford County22Soft128152022
Effingham County22Soft579262026
Greene County22Soft658302026
Harris County22Soft793322026
Lee County22Soft157312022
McDuffie County22Soft113122026
Muscogee County22Soft406202026
Newton County22Soft1,279392026
Spalding County22Soft119142025
Wayne County22Soft798422024
Worth County22Soft171362026
Banks County21.5Soft5472025
Quitman County21.4Soft306112026
Murray County21Soft323402024
Stewart County21Soft691262026
Washington County21Soft176232025
Charlton County20Soft537372026
Gwinnett County20Soft4,760862026
Hancock County20Soft292222026
Monroe County20Soft723292026
Pierce County20Soft439202026
Ware County20Soft343252026
Stephens County19.9Soft102152026
Clarke County19.5Soft373392026
Oglethorpe County19.5Soft116142024
Butts County19Soft942242026
Candler County19Soft151112023
Evans County19Soft243162024
Warren County19Soft183202025
Morgan County18.9Soft382292026
Baldwin County18Soft342112025
Columbia County18Soft281402025
Jefferson County18Soft256452026
Pickens County18Soft160172023
Terrell County18Soft139242018
Wheeler County18Soft202212026
Pike County17.9Soft247252024
Rockdale County17.7Soft737392025
Walton County17.5Soft314222026
Bibb County17Soft602262023
Carroll County17Soft1,171372026
Heard County17Soft1,163252026
Randolph County17Soft250132026
Telfair County16.9Soft141172025
Montgomery County16.5Soft52112026
Meriwether County16Soft252212026
Tattnall County16Soft381202025
Hall County15.5Soft2,409542026
Lamar County15.5Soft7292025
Toombs County15.2Soft250222025
Madison County15Soft198202026
Upson County15Soft571272026
Webster County15Soft208152022
Echols County14Soft342142025
Elbert County14Soft415282025
Haralson County14Soft402212026
Houston County14Soft172332017
Lincoln County14Soft21992025
Brantley County12Soft731192026
Forsyth County12Soft709272025
Glascock County12Soft73132024
Macon County12Soft845362026
Richmond County12Soft9761252026
Talbot County11Soft130162026
Gilmer County9Soft1,820502026
Hart County8.2Soft259212026
Habersham County8Soft288212023
Lanier County8Soft211152025
White County7.9Soft482392026
Union County7.1Soft548322026
Clinch County7Soft549182026
Schley County6.6Soft22102021
Dawson County6.3Soft236292025
Peach County6Soft21102024
Lumpkin County5.5Soft957282026
Taylor County5.5Soft290282024
Fannin County5.4Soft680512026
Marion County5.4Soft56112025
Rabun County5.1Soft806402026
Towns County3.6Soft433202025

ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Georgia

The ZIP codes below are grouped by the Georgia county they fall in. Each ZIP takes its county's measured median — shown in the group header — so this is a ZIP-to-county guide, not a separate reading for every ZIP. To check the water system serving a specific address, use the lookup.

Glynn County · 230 mg/L · Very hard

31520315223152331524315253152731561

McIntosh County · 148 mg/L · Hard

313053132731331

Catoosa County · 127 mg/L · Hard

307263073630742

Mitchell County · 110.5 mg/L · Moderately hard

3171631730317653177931784

Chattooga County · 110 mg/L · Moderately hard

30730307313074730753

Polk County · 110 mg/L · Moderately hard

301043012530153

Walker County · 110 mg/L · Moderately hard

307073072530728307393074130750

Miller County · 100 mg/L · Moderately hard

39837

Chatham County · 97.9 mg/L · Moderately hard

313023132231328314013140431405314063140731408314093141031411314153141931421

Camden County · 73 mg/L · Moderately hard

315473154831558315653156831569

Coffee County · 73 mg/L · Moderately hard

315123151931533315353155431567

Whitfield County · 64 mg/L · Moderately hard

307103072030721307403075530756

Dade County · 62 mg/L · Moderately hard

307383075230757

Floyd County · 53 mg/L · Soft

30105301243014730149301613016530173

Gordon County · 50 mg/L · Soft

301393070130733307343073530746

Dooly County · 49 mg/L · Soft

3100731051310703109131092

Thomas County · 47 mg/L · Soft

3162631738317573177331792

Baker County · 45 mg/L · Soft

39870

Colquitt County · 45 mg/L · Soft

3172231747317533175631768317713177531788

Lowndes County · 45 mg/L · Soft

3160131602316053160631632316413169831699

Bleckley County · 44.5 mg/L · Soft

31014

Decatur County · 41 mg/L · Soft

3981539817398193982539834

Bartow County · 38 mg/L · Soft

3010330120301213013730145301713017830184

Liberty County · 36.1 mg/L · Soft

3130131309313133131431315313203132331333

Wilkes County · 35 mg/L · Soft

306603066830673

Clayton County · 34 mg/L · Soft

3023630238302503026030273302743029630297

Dougherty County · 34 mg/L · Soft

3170131704317053170731721

Grady County · 33 mg/L · Soft

398273982839897

Henry County · 33 mg/L · Soft

3022830248302523025330281

Jeff Davis County · 33 mg/L · Soft

3153231539

Cook County · 32.5 mg/L · Soft

31620316273163731647

Sumter County · 32.5 mg/L · Soft

317093171131719317353176431780

Brooks County · 32 mg/L · Soft

316253162931638316433172031778

Jones County · 32 mg/L · Soft

3103231033310383121131217

Taliaferro County · 32 mg/L · Soft

3063130664

Jasper County · 31.1 mg/L · Soft

300563106431085

Long County · 29.5 mg/L · Soft

31316

Fulton County · 29.3 mg/L · Soft

3000430005300093002230075300763009730213302683027230291303033030530306303083030930310303113031230313303143031530318303243032630327303283033130332303343033630337303423034430349303503035430363

Ben Hill County · 29 mg/L · Soft

31750

Dodge County · 29 mg/L · Soft

31011310123102331077

Paulding County · 29 mg/L · Soft

301323014130157

Pulaski County · 29 mg/L · Soft

3103631071

Cobb County · 28.9 mg/L · Soft

30008300603006230064300663006730068300803008230090301013010630111301263012730144301523016830339

DeKalb County · 28.9 mg/L · Soft

3000230021300303003230033300343003530038300583007230079300833008430087300883028830294303073031630317303193032230329303383034030341303453034630360

Treutlen County · 28.8 mg/L · Soft

30457

Calhoun County · 28 mg/L · Soft

39813398463986239866

Seminole County · 28 mg/L · Soft

3984539859

Turner County · 28 mg/L · Soft

317143178331790

Wilcox County · 28 mg/L · Soft

31001310723107931084

Irwin County · 27.5 mg/L · Soft

317333177431798

Jenkins County · 27.5 mg/L · Soft

3044230822

Jackson County · 27.1 mg/L · Soft

305173052930548305493055830565305673057530607

Tift County · 27 mg/L · Soft

317273179331794

Bulloch County · 26 mg/L · Soft

304153045030452304583046030461

Douglas County · 26 mg/L · Soft

30122301343013530187

Early County · 26 mg/L · Soft

39823398323984139861

Screven County · 26 mg/L · Soft

30446304493045530467

Twiggs County · 25.5 mg/L · Soft

3102031044

Burke County · 25 mg/L · Soft

30426304563081630830

Fayette County · 25 mg/L · Soft

3020530214302153026930290

Johnson County · 25 mg/L · Soft

3104931096

Wilkinson County · 25 mg/L · Soft

310033101731031310423105431090

Bacon County · 24 mg/L · Soft

31510

Barrow County · 24 mg/L · Soft

30011306203066630680

Crisp County · 24 mg/L · Soft

3101531712

Laurens County · 24 mg/L · Soft

3045431009310193102131022310273106531075

Oconee County · 24 mg/L · Soft

306213062230677

Troup County · 24 mg/L · Soft

302303024030241

Franklin County · 23.9 mg/L · Soft

3052130553305573063930662

Appling County · 23.7 mg/L · Soft

315133151831563

Atkinson County · 23 mg/L · Soft

316243164231650

Berrien County · 23 mg/L · Soft

31622316393164531749

Coweta County · 23 mg/L · Soft

302203022930259302633026530275302763027730289

Emanuel County · 23 mg/L · Soft

30401304253044130448304643047131002

Putnam County · 23 mg/L · Soft

31024

Bryan County · 22 mg/L · Soft

313083132131324

Chattahoochee County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3180531905

Cherokee County · 22 mg/L · Soft

30102301073011430115301833018830189

Clay County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3982439851

Crawford County · 22 mg/L · Soft

310503106631078

Effingham County · 22 mg/L · Soft

313033130731312313183132631329

Greene County · 22 mg/L · Soft

30642306653066930678

Harris County · 22 mg/L · Soft

318043180731808318113182231823318263183131833

Lee County · 22 mg/L · Soft

317433176331787

McDuffie County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3080830824

Muscogee County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3182031829319013190331904319063190731909

Newton County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3001430016300543005530070

Spalding County · 22 mg/L · Soft

302233022430284

Wayne County · 22 mg/L · Soft

3154531546315553156031599

Worth County · 22 mg/L · Soft

31744317723178131789317913179531796

Banks County · 21.5 mg/L · Soft

30510305113053030547

Quitman County · 21.4 mg/L · Soft

3985439867

Murray County · 21 mg/L · Soft

3070530708307113072430751

Stewart County · 21 mg/L · Soft

31814318153182131825

Washington County · 21 mg/L · Soft

310183103531067310823108931094

Charlton County · 20 mg/L · Soft

3153731562

Gwinnett County · 20 mg/L · Soft

30017300193002430039300433004430045300463004730071300783009230093300963051830519

Hancock County · 20 mg/L · Soft

3104531087

Monroe County · 20 mg/L · Soft

31004310163102931046

Pierce County · 20 mg/L · Soft

31516315513155631557

Ware County · 20 mg/L · Soft

3150131503315503155231564

Stephens County · 19.9 mg/L · Soft

305383057730598

Clarke County · 19.5 mg/L · Soft

3060130602306053060630609

Oglethorpe County · 19.5 mg/L · Soft

306193062730630306483066730683

Butts County · 19 mg/L · Soft

302163023330234

Candler County · 19 mg/L · Soft

304203043930451

Evans County · 19 mg/L · Soft

30414304173042330429

Warren County · 19 mg/L · Soft

308073082130828

Morgan County · 18.9 mg/L · Soft

30623306253065030663

Baldwin County · 18 mg/L · Soft

310343106131062

Columbia County · 18 mg/L · Soft

3080230809308133081430907

Jefferson County · 18 mg/L · Soft

30413304343047730803308183082330833

Pickens County · 18 mg/L · Soft

301433017530177

Terrell County · 18 mg/L · Soft

39826398423987739885

Wheeler County · 18 mg/L · Soft

3041130428

Pike County · 17.9 mg/L · Soft

3020630256302583029230295

Rockdale County · 17.7 mg/L · Soft

300123001330094

Walton County · 17.5 mg/L · Soft

300183002530052306413065530656

Bibb County · 17 mg/L · Soft

310523120131204312063120731210312133121631220

Carroll County · 17 mg/L · Soft

301083011630117301183017030179301803018230185

Heard County · 17 mg/L · Soft

30217

Randolph County · 17 mg/L · Soft

398363984039886

Telfair County · 16.9 mg/L · Soft

310373105531060310833154431549

Montgomery County · 16.5 mg/L · Soft

30410304123044530470

Meriwether County · 16 mg/L · Soft

302183022230251302933181631830

Tattnall County · 16 mg/L · Soft

304213042730453

Hall County · 15.5 mg/L · Soft

30501305043050630507305273054230543305543056430566

Lamar County · 15.5 mg/L · Soft

3020430257

Toombs County · 15.2 mg/L · Soft

304363047330474

Madison County · 15 mg/L · Soft

30628306293063330646

Upson County · 15 mg/L · Soft

302853028631097

Webster County · 15 mg/L · Soft

3182431832

Echols County · 14 mg/L · Soft

316313163631648

Elbert County · 14 mg/L · Soft

306243063430635

Haralson County · 14 mg/L · Soft

301103011330176

Houston County · 14 mg/L · Soft

3100531025310283104731069310883109331098

Lincoln County · 14 mg/L · Soft

30817

Brantley County · 12 mg/L · Soft

31542315433155331566

Forsyth County · 12 mg/L · Soft

300283004030041

Glascock County · 12 mg/L · Soft

3081030820

Macon County · 12 mg/L · Soft

31041310573106331068

Richmond County · 12 mg/L · Soft

308053081230815309013090430905309063090930912

Talbot County · 11 mg/L · Soft

31810318123182731836

Gilmer County · 9 mg/L · Soft

30522305363053930540

Hart County · 8.2 mg/L · Soft

305163052030643

Habersham County · 8 mg/L · Soft

30523305313053530563

Lanier County · 8 mg/L · Soft

3163531649

White County · 7.9 mg/L · Soft

305283054530571

Union County · 7.1 mg/L · Soft

3051230572

Clinch County · 7 mg/L · Soft

316233163031634

Schley County · 6.6 mg/L · Soft

31806

Dawson County · 6.3 mg/L · Soft

3014830534

Peach County · 6 mg/L · Soft

3100831030

Lumpkin County · 5.5 mg/L · Soft

3053330597

Taylor County · 5.5 mg/L · Soft

3100631039310583107631081

Fannin County · 5.4 mg/L · Soft

3051330541305553055930560

Marion County · 5.4 mg/L · Soft

3180131803

Rabun County · 5.1 mg/L · Soft

3052530537305523056230568305733057630581

Towns County · 3.6 mg/L · Soft

3054630582

459 ZIP codes are not served by a mapped community water system — most are private-well areas. See well water hardness.

Check any ZIP's utility and hardness →

Source

Groundwater vs surface water

Georgia's groundwater measures harder than its surface water — 200 mg/L across 6,608 samples versus 23.1 across 85,901, about 8.7× harder. Wells draw from groundwater, so well owners in Georgia tend to see the harder number — 200 mg/L, very hard. Groundwater readings there run 23.6 to 440 mg/L across the middle 80% of samples. The comparison draws on 1,859 groundwater and 3,359 surface-water monitoring sites; 2,084 readings above 2,000 mg/L were logged but held out of the medians as outliers.

Groundwater (wells)

200 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 6,608 results at 1,859 stations.

Surface water (rivers, lakes)

23.1 mg/L as CaCO₃ · 85,901 results at 3,359 stations.

Groundwater measures about 8.7× harder than surface water here.

Chemistry

Water chemistry in Georgia

Beyond the hardness number, Georgia's water carries a fuller chemical signature — here is how its measured parameters compare to national benchmarks.

TDS

66 mg/L · n=7,287

66 mg/L — below the national county median of 226.

pH

6.8 pH · n=151,608

pH 6.8 — within the EPA secondary range of 6.5–8.5, on the acidic side.

Alkalinity

23 mg/L as CaCO3 · n=83,562

23 mg/L — modest buffering capacity.

Calcium : Magnesium

6.1 : 1.6 mg/L3.81 : 1 · n=16,918

Calcium is about 70% of Georgia's hardness (6.1 mg/L Ca to 1.6 mg/L Mg), a little more calcium-rich than the national ~68% calcium share.

Parameter medians may include a small share of quality-control samples; the hardness lane is fully QC-filtered.

Aquifers

Major aquifers under Georgia

3 aquifer systems supply much of Georgia's measured groundwater.

  • Floridan aquifer systemmedian 210 mg/L across 5,089 samples at 900 sites: very hard.
  • Valley and Ridge aquifersmedian 140 mg/L across 64 samples at 60 sites: hard.
  • Piedmont and Blue Ridge crystalline-rock aquifersmedian 44 mg/L across 364 samples at 291 sites: soft.

Together these systems account for 5,517 measured samples at 1,251 sites. Aquifer medians pool samples across a whole system and can mask local variation — see the national aquifer map for how these compare across states.

Trend

Hardness over time

1900s2020s92

Georgia's decade median moved from 25.2 mg/L in the 1900s to 22 in the 2020s. Over the series, the decade median peaked at 92 mg/L in the 1960s and bottomed at 16 in the 1930s. Decade medians reflect where and what agencies sampled in each era, not just changes in the water itself.

Scale

Where Georgia sits on the scale

On the USGS scale, Georgia's 24.4 mg/L is soft — 1.4 grains per gallon, below the 60 mg/L soft cutoff — among the softest water measured in the US.

SoftModerately hardHardVery hard60 · 3.5 gpg120 · 7.0 gpg180 · 10.5 gpg24.4 mg/L — Soft
Harder than 13% of the 2,977 measured county medians.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Georgia's water hard?
Georgia's median hardness is 24.4 mg/L as CaCO₃, "soft" on the USGS scale and below the national county median of 140 mg/L.
Which county in Georgia has the hardest water?
Glynn County, with a median of 230 mg/L as CaCO₃ across 4,542 measurements.
Is well water harder than city water in Georgia?
Groundwater measures harder here — about 8.7× the surface water — so wells tend to run harder (groundwater 200 vs surface water 23.1 mg/L).
How do I find my exact hardness in Georgia?
Search your ZIP on the lookup tool, read your utility's Consumer Confidence Report, or test at home with a kit.
Is Georgia's water harder than the national average?
No. Georgia's median of 24.4 mg/L is below the national county median of 140 mg/L; it ranks #46 of the 50 states and D.C.

Compare

States with similar hardness

Two states measure closest to Georgia's 24.4 mg/L: New Hampshire at 22.9 mg/L and North Carolina at 27 mg/L. Georgia measures harder than 10% of states. Browse the full ranking on the statistics page.

More: hardness scale · check your address · national statistics · the national map.

By . Source: USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal — 92,696 Georgia measurements. Data last verified . Methodology.

Cite this page:Georgia Water Hardness by County.” Hard Water Map. Retrieved 2026-07-22, https://hardwatermap.com/water-hardness/georgia/