Des Moines Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
411 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.57
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 Des Moines, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Des Moines | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -71% |
| Washing Machine | 5.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -53% |
| Water Heater | 7 yrs | 15 yrs | -53% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Des Moines compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Des Moines, Iowa | 214 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| West Des Moines, Iowa | 133.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Urbandale, Iowa | 238 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Clive, Iowa | 290 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Des Moines compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Des Moines | 214 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Des Moines's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Des Moines, Iowa draws its drinking water from two rivers operated by Des Moines Water Works (DMWW): the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River, with raw water intakes located west of the city in Polk County. The L.D. McMullen Water Treatment Plant — one of the largest single-site treatment facilities in the Midwest — processes river water through conventional coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration along with advanced treatment for agricultural contaminants. Des Moines Water Works gained national attention for its nitrate litigation addressing upstream agricultural drainage. The city's water hardness measures 214 mg/L — classified as hard — a characteristic of Iowa's glacially influenced river systems.
The elevated hardness of Des Moines' water is rooted in the geology of the Des Moines and Raccoon River watersheds. Both rivers drain central Iowa's thick Pleistocene glacial till — a calcium-rich unsorted sediment deposited by repeated ice sheet advances — overlying Mississippian-age Burlington and St. Louis Limestone and Devonian carbonate formations. Agricultural tile drainage networks across the Corn Belt efficiently move calcium-bicarbonate-laden water from fields directly into the rivers, supplementing the natural bedrock contribution and maintaining consistently high hardness levels in the raw water supply year-round.
At 214 mg/L, Des Moines residents encounter regular scale build-up on faucets, showerheads, and kettle interiors — descaling every four to six weeks is a practical maintenance habit. Water heaters accumulate significant limescale on heating elements over time, shortening operational life and increasing energy costs; annual professional servicing or DIY descaling is recommended. Dishwashers perform significantly better with rinse-aid, and white mineral film on glassware is common without it. A water softener or whole-house scale inhibitor is a worthwhile long-term investment for Des Moines households looking to protect appliances and plumbing.
Geology & Source: River water from the Des Moines River and Raccoon River — both draining Iowa's glaciated landscape over Mississippian St. Louis and Burlington Limestone and thick Pleistocene glacial till — accumulate calcium bicarbonate from carbonate bedrock and agricultural drainage, producing very hard supply at 214 mg/L.