Altoona Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
16.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
616.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.74
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 Altoona, your appliances are currently losing 37% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Altoona | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -72% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Altoona compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Altoona, Iowa | 276 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 214 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ankeny, Iowa | 295 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Urbandale, Iowa | 238 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Altoona compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Altoona | 276 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Altoona's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Altoona, Iowa, in Polk County — a Polk County city adjacent to Des Moines and Ankeny in the east Des Moines metropolitan corridor — receives its municipal water from the Des Moines Water Works, drawing from the Raccoon River or Des Moines River (Polk County) through the Des Moines WW treatment system.
The extremely hard 276 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 616.1 mg/L reflect the Des Moines metro's famously hard river supply — among the hardest in the Midwest. The Raccoon River and Des Moines River drain the Iowa Drift Plain — Ordovician Galena Group dolomite (the dominant Iowa-Minnesota carbonate platform), Devonian Cedar Valley Limestone (high-purity calcite), and calcareous Pleistocene Des Moines Lobe till (ground-up carbonate from the last glaciation). The cumulative Ordovician-Devonian carbonate loading from the Iowa Drift Plain produces the extremely hard Des Moines supply.
At 276 mg/L, Altoona's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential. Scale builds immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are severely shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 5.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Polk County Des Moines industrial corridor, the Raccoon River nitrate-PFAS agricultural pollution (Des Moines WW is one of the most well-known agricultural runoff cases in the US), and the Iowa PFAS background contribute to Altoona's readings.
Geology & Source: Altoona in Polk County draws from Des Moines Water Works on the Raccoon River or Des Moines River (Polk County, Iowa) — the rivers drain the Iowa Drift Plain (Ordovician Galena dolomite, Devonian Cedar Valley Limestone, calcareous Pleistocene Des Moines Lobe till) — Iowa Polk County Raccoon-Des Moines River carbonate watershed produces extremely hard water at 276 mg/L with TDS 616.1 mg/L in this Polk County Iowa city.