How does Marion's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Marion (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Marion Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.9

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

282.4 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Marion, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Marion	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Marion compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Marion, Indiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Wabash, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	9.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Huntington, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Yorktown, Indiana	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Anderson, Indiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed

National Benchmark

How Marion compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Marion	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Marion home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Marion's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 282.4 mg/LpH: 7.9

Marion City Water Works serves Marion, Indiana (Grant County) and surrounding areas. The utility operates water treatment facilities drawing from both surface sources in the White River watershed and groundwater supplies. Treatment includes filtration and softening processes, with chloramines and chlorine used for disinfection. The 2026 water quality report confirms all EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals are met across the service area, with a perfect quality score of 100/100 and zero violations recorded.

The White River watershed and underlying Paleozoic bedrock — dominated by Ordovician and Silurian dolomite and limestone formations — shape Marion's water chemistry. These soluble carbonate rocks naturally dissolve as water percolates through soil and bedrock, releasing calcium and magnesium ions that create a characteristically hard water supply typical of central Indiana. This geologic setting is the primary driver of mineral content in both the surface and groundwater sources tapped by the utility.

At hard water levels, scale buildup on fixtures, reduced soap effectiveness, and increased appliance maintenance are common. Water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines are most affected by mineral deposits. A water softener is recommended for households experiencing scale or preferring softer water, though Marion City Water Works already applies municipal-level softening treatment to mitigate these effects. All contaminants remain within EPA safe levels; the utility uses filtration and softening followed by chloramination for microbial control.

Geology & Source: White River watershed, Grant County — Paleozoic Ordovician and Silurian dolomite and limestone bedrock; soluble carbonate formations release calcium and magnesium readily; characteristically hard water typical of central Indiana

Other Indiana Water Reports

Wabash

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Huntington

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Yorktown

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Anderson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marion's water safe to drink?

Yes. Marion's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Marion?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Marion's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Marion compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Marion (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Marion is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.