Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina has an estimated water hardness of 75 ppm (mg/L as calcium carbonate), which is classed as moderately hard. Some mineral build-up is possible in heated appliances.
Buenos Aires water hardness in every unit
| Unit | Average |
|---|---|
| mg/L or ppm (CaCO₃) | 75 |
| mmol/L | 0.75 |
| German degrees (°dH) | 4.2 |
| French degrees (°fH) | 7.5 |
| Clark degrees (°e) | 5.26 |
| Grains per US gallon (gpg) | 4.38 |
Published range: 50–100 ppm.
Where Buenos Aires's water comes from
- Supplier: AySA (Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos)
- Source: The Río de la Plata, treated at the General San Martín plant in Palermo and the General Belgrano plant in Bernal
AySA serves the capital and 18 surrounding municipalities. A new intake tower further offshore is planned to increase the Belgrano plant’s output. AySA: water quality (checked 2026-10-05).
How Buenos Aires compares
With an average of 75 ppm, Buenos Aires ranks 9th hardest of the 19 cities in our directory, 9 ppm above the directory median of 66 ppm. Among the cities in our directory in South America, São Paulo is the softest at 63 ppm.
What the range means
Published figures for Buenos Aires run from 50 to 100 ppm. The spread is relatively narrow (50 ppm), so the average is a reasonable guide, though your own tap can still differ from the citywide figure.
What moderately hard water means at home
Moderately hard water can leave light white deposits on kettle elements, taps and glassware over time. It is usually manageable with periodic descaling, and many households need no softening equipment at all.
Appliance settings for 75 ppm water
- Dishwasher: salt optional; low–medium hardness band. Use salt if you see spotting or your manual requires it.
- Coffee machine: descale every 2–3 months; filter: helpful for taste and scale control.
- Laundry: use the medium-water dose. Follow the product label for your load size.
- Kettle: descale inspect every 6–8 weeks.
- Humidifier: filtered water can reduce white dust; clean at least weekly.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the water in Buenos Aires?
The estimate for Buenos Aires, Argentina is about 75 mg/L as calcium carbonate (4.2 °dH, 7.5 °fH, 4.38 gpg), with a published range of 50–100 mg/L. That is classed as moderately hard water. Metropolitan treated-water estimate.
Do I need dishwasher salt in Buenos Aires?
Optionally. Use salt if you see spotting or your manual requires it. Always follow your dishwasher manual.
How often should I descale a coffee machine in Buenos Aires?
At this hardness, descale every 2–3 months. Water filter: helpful for taste and scale control.
Do I need a water softener in Buenos Aires?
Usually not. Appliance settings and occasional descaling are normally enough, but a filter or softener is a personal choice if you dislike spotting.
Is hard water in Buenos Aires safe to drink?
Water hardness is mainly an aesthetic and scale issue. The World Health Organization does not set a health-based guideline value for it. Hardness affects taste, scale and detergent use rather than drinking safety, and your utility is responsible for meeting drinking-water standards. If you have a specific health or dietary concern, ask your doctor.
Who supplies tap water in Buenos Aires?
AySA (Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos). Source: The Río de la Plata, treated at the General San Martín plant in Palermo and the General Belgrano plant in Bernal.
How to check your own water
City averages are a starting point. To get your actual figure, look for the latest water-quality report from AySA water quality or your local supplier, or dip a hardness test strip in a glass of cold tap water and read it against the chart. Strips usually report in °dH, gpg or ppm; enter the number into the Waterdial checker to convert it and see the matching appliance settings. A manual reading always beats a city estimate.
Source
AySA water quality, checked 2026-10-05. Guidance is general; your appliance manual takes priority.
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