Newton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
305.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.47
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 Newton, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Newton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -55% |
| Washing Machine | 7.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -41% |
| Water Heater | 8.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Newton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Newton, Iowa | 176.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Marshalltown, Iowa | 180.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Altoona, Iowa | 276 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ankeny, Iowa | 295 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 214 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Newton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Newton | 176.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Newton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Newton, Iowa, in Jasper County — the Jasper County seat adjacent to Colfax and Kellogg on the Skunk River in central Iowa — receives its municipal water from the Newton Water Division, drawing from the Skunk River (Jasper County, a Des Moines River tributary) through the central Iowa water treatment system.
The hard 176.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 305.9 mg/L reflect the central Iowa Skunk River supply's moderate calcareous character — somewhat softer than the Raccoon River-sourced DMWW communities (Clive: 290 mg/L; Des Moines: 285 mg/L) but consistent with the broader Iowa Drift Plain calcareous supply. The Skunk River at Jasper County drains the Iowa Drift Plain — Pennsylvanian Cherokee Group (calcareous coal-measure shale — primary hardness contributor), calcareous Pleistocene Wisconsin Till (glacially ground Pennsylvanian and Mississippian carbonate — dominant surface hardness contributor), and Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous — bedrock leaching contribution). The Pennsylvanian calcareous and Wisconsin Till produces the hard central Iowa supply.
At 176.5 mg/L, Newton's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 3.7 ppt is low — the Jasper County central Iowa agricultural corridor has limited major AFFF military PFAS sources adjacent to the Skunk River watershed.
Geology & Source: Newton in Jasper County draws from the Newton Water Division on the Skunk River (Jasper County, central Iowa) — the Skunk River drains the Iowa Drift Plain (Pennsylvanian Cherokee Group calcareous, calcareous Pleistocene Wisconsin Till) — Iowa Jasper County Skunk River Iowa Drift Plain calcareous watershed produces hard water at 176.5 mg/L with TDS 305.9 mg/L in this Jasper County Iowa city.