Fort Madison Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.5 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
768.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.84
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 Fort Madison, your appliances are currently losing 42% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fort Madison | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fort Madison compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Madison, Iowa | 316 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Keokuk, Iowa | 139.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Burlington, Iowa | 321.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Macomb, Illinois | 203.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Quincy, Illinois | 182 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Fort Madison compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fort Madison | 316 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fort Madison's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fort Madison, Iowa, in Lee County — the Lee County seat adjacent to Keokuk and Montrose on the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa — receives its water from the City of Fort Madison Water Department, drawing from the Mississippi River through the southeast Iowa distribution.
The extremely hard 316 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 768.4 mg/L reflect the Lee County Mississippi River supply's extreme dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the upper Mississippi River corridor, and Fort Madison's river intake concentrates dissolved mineral content from the extensive Iowa-Illinois dolomite drainage (compare Keokuk IA: 311/756 in Lee County comparable; Montrose IA: 320/780 in Lee County comparable; Fort Madison consistent extremely hard from the same Lee County Mississippi River Silurian dolomitic supply). The Mississippi River at Lee County — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (highly dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Mississippi River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 316 mg/L with TDS 768, Fort Madison's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is recommended for drinking due to high TDS. The PFAS level of 6.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Fort Madison's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Fort Madison in Lee County draws from the Fort Madison Water on the Mississippi River (Lee County, southeast Iowa) — the Mississippi River at Lee County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (highly dolomitic) — Iowa Lee County Mississippi River Silurian dolomitic supply produces extremely hard water at 316 mg/L with TDS 768.4 mg/L.