Crawfordsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
578.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.64
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 Crawfordsville, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Crawfordsville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -80% |
| Washing Machine | 4.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -61% |
| Water Heater | 6 yrs | 15 yrs | -60% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Crawfordsville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Crawfordsville, Indiana | 240.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lafayette, Indiana | 272 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| West Lafayette, Indiana | 141 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Lebanon, Indiana | 125 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Frankfort, Indiana | 148.5 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Crawfordsville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Crawfordsville | 240.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Crawfordsville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Crawfordsville, Indiana, in Montgomery County — the Montgomery County seat adjacent to Alamo and Waynetown on Sugar Creek (Wabash tributary) in west-central Indiana — receives its municipal water from the Crawfordsville Water Division, drawing from Sugar Creek (Montgomery County) through the Crawfordsville treatment plant.
The very hard 240.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 578.8 mg/L reflect the west-central Indiana Sugar Creek supply's intense Niagara Dolomite carbonate character — among the hardest surface water supplies in Indiana, exceeding even the northwest Indiana Kankakee communities in unit carbonate loading. The Sugar Creek at Montgomery County drains the Indiana Till Plain — Silurian Niagara Dolomite (very high purity dolomite bedrock — the dominant west Indiana carbonate platform), Ordovician Trenton Limestone (calcareous — very hard), and calcareous Pleistocene Tipton Till (glacially ground Silurian dolomite and Ordovician limestone). The pure Niagara Dolomite and Trenton Limestone produces the very hard west-central Indiana Sugar Creek supply.
At 240.5 mg/L with TDS 579, Crawfordsville's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 7.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Montgomery County west-central Indiana industrial corridor and the Wabash River PFAS background contribute to Crawfordsville's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Crawfordsville in Montgomery County draws from the Crawfordsville Water Division on Sugar Creek (Montgomery County, west-central Indiana) — the Sugar Creek drains the Indiana Till Plain (Silurian Niagara Dolomite, Ordovician Trenton Limestone, calcareous Pleistocene Tipton Till) — Indiana Montgomery County Sugar Creek Silurian-Ordovician carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 240.5 mg/L with TDS 578.8 mg/L.