Keokuk Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
216 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
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 Keokuk, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Keokuk | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -30% |
| Water Heater | 10 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Keokuk compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Keokuk, Iowa | 139.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Fort Madison, Iowa | 316 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Quincy, Illinois | 182 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Burlington, Iowa | 321.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Hannibal, Missouri | 157 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Keokuk compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Keokuk | 139.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Keokuk's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Keokuk, Iowa, in Lee County — a Lee County city adjacent to Fort Madison and Nauvoo on the Mississippi River at the Iowa-Missouri-Illinois tri-state junction — receives its water from the City of Keokuk Water Department, drawing from the Mississippi River through the southeast Iowa distribution.
The hard 139.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 216 mg/L reflect the Lee County Mississippi River supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the upper Mississippi corridor; Keokuk's hardness is significantly lower than nearby Fort Madison due to different intake location and seasonal river blending patterns (compare Fort Madison IA: 316/768 in Lee County comparable; Nauvoo IL: 136/210 in Hancock County comparable; Keokuk consistent 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 — minor TDS).
At 139.5 mg/L with TDS 216, Keokuk's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.0 ppt is low — a clean result for southeast Iowa. Review the City of Keokuk's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Keokuk in Lee County draws from the Keokuk 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 hard water at 139.5 mg/L with TDS 216 mg/L.