Bluffton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
317.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.45
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Bluffton, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Bluffton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -53% |
| Washing Machine | 7.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -39% |
| Water Heater | 8.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -41% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Bluffton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bluffton, Indiana | 169.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Huntington, Indiana | 226 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| New Haven, Indiana | 213.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Fort Wayne, Indiana | 145.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Marion, Indiana | 158 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Bluffton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Bluffton | 169.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Bluffton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Bluffton, Indiana, in Wells County — the Wells County seat adjacent to Decatur and Huntington on the Wabash River in northeast Indiana — receives its water from the City of Bluffton Water Department, drawing from the Wabash River through the northeast Indiana distribution.
The hard 169.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 317.5 mg/L reflect the Wells County supply's hard northeast Indiana dolomitic limestone character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Quaternary Wells County glacial till are highly dolomitic-calcareous formations in the northeast Indiana glacial plain; the Wabash River at Wells County acquires hard dissolved mineral content from its northeast Indiana dolomite-rich glacial drainage (compare Decatur IN: 165/307 in Adams County comparable; Huntington IN: 173/328 in Huntington County comparable; Bluffton consistent hard from the same Wells County Wabash River Silurian dolomitic supply). The Wabash River at Wells County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Quaternary Wells County glacial till (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Wabash River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 169.5 mg/L with TDS 318, Bluffton's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Bluffton's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Bluffton in Wells County draws from the Bluffton Water on the Wabash River supply (Wells County, northeast Indiana) — the northeast Indiana glacial plain at Wells County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Quaternary Wells County glacial till (calcareous) — Indiana Wells County Wabash River Silurian dolomitic supply produces hard water at 169.5 mg/L with TDS 317.5 mg/L.