Ames Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Ames Water Treatment Plant supplies drinking water to approximately 67,000 residents in Ames, Iowa, and surrounding Story County areas, including the Iowa State University campus. Water is sourced exclusively from 22 groundwater wells located in downtown Ames, on the ISU campus, behind Walmart and Target on South Duff Avenue, and near the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex. Treatment involves aeration, sedimentation with chloride lime softening to remove hardness-causing calcium and magnesium, filtration, and disinfection, with ISU purchasing and redistributing treated water on campus.

The wells penetrate Quaternary glacial drift overlying Paleozoic bedrock aquifers in central Iowa's Des Moines Lobe region, specifically Devonian and Mississippian carbonate formations including the Cedar Valley Limestone and dolomite-rich Burlington-Keokuk Formation. Calcium and magnesium dissolve from these limestone and dolomite layers over millennia, imparting a characteristically hard supply. The thick glacial overburden and karst features provide natural filtration, yielding a supply free from surface nitrates — a notable contrast to nearby utilities affected by agricultural runoff.

Very hard water promotes significant limescale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency — expect 20–50% higher energy use in heaters and frequent deliming. Kettles and faucets show white deposits quickly; maintenance includes annual vinegar flushes for appliances and low-flow aerators. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended to prevent scaling, extend appliance life, and improve soap efficiency. Raw water pH measures 7.35; the utility complies with EPA action levels for copper (1.3 mg/L) and lead (15 µg/L), and nitrate is below detection limit — well under the 10 mg/L MCL.