Boone Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.6 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
523.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.67
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 Boone, your appliances are currently losing 33% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Boone | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -63% |
| Water Heater | 5.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -63% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Boone compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Boone, Iowa | 249.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ames, Iowa | 283.5 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ankeny, Iowa | 295 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Waukee, Iowa | 339.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Boone compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Boone | 249.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Boone home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Boone's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Boone, Iowa, in Boone County — the Boone County seat adjacent to Ames and Jefferson on the Des Moines River in central Iowa — receives its water from the City of Boone Water, drawing from the Des Moines River (Boone County) through the central Iowa distribution.
The very hard 249.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 523.7 mg/L reflect the central Iowa Boone County Des Moines River supply's very hard dolomitic character — the Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite and Devonian Wapsipinicon Formation produce very hard dolomitic water typical of the central Iowa communities on the Des Moines River system (compare Worthington MN: 229/541 at the Des Moines River headwaters in the Prairie Coteau; Boone further downstream accumulates more dolomite dissolution). The Des Moines River at Boone County — Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Wapsipinicon Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Iowa glacial drift (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 249.5 mg/L with TDS 524, Boone's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 5.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Boone County central Iowa agricultural-industrial corridor contribute to Boone's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Boone in Boone County draws from the City of Boone Water on the Des Moines River (Boone County, central Iowa) — the Des Moines River at Boone County drains the Iowa drift plain (Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite — dolomitic) and Devonian Wapsipinicon Formation (calcareous) — Iowa Boone County Des Moines River Ordovician-Devonian dolomitic supply produces very hard water at 249.5 mg/L with TDS 523.7 mg/L.