North Liberty Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
379 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.54
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 North Liberty, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In North Liberty | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -66% |
| Washing Machine | 6.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -49% |
| Water Heater | 7.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -50% |
Regional Water Comparison
How North Liberty compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ North Liberty, Iowa | 203 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Coralville, Iowa | 343.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Iowa City, Iowa | 257 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 167.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Marion, Iowa | 170.5 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How North Liberty compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ North Liberty | 203 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your North Liberty home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes North Liberty's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
North Liberty, Iowa, in Johnson County — a Johnson County city adjacent to Coralville and Iowa City in the Iowa City metro of east-central Iowa — receives its municipal water from the North Liberty Water Division, drawing from the Iowa River (Johnson County) through the North Liberty treatment plant.
The very hard 203 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 379 mg/L reflect the east-central Iowa River supply's intense carbonate character — consistent with the Iowa City area communities on the Iowa River. The Iowa River at Johnson County drains the Iowa Till Plain — Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (the dominant Iowa carbonate platform — calcareous), Cambrian Jordan Sandstone (calcareous cement), and calcareous Pleistocene Iowan Surface till (glacially ground dolomite and limestone). The Prairie du Chien dolomite and Cambrian calcareous formations produce the very hard east-central Iowa supply.
At 203 mg/L, North Liberty's water is very hard — scale builds steadily in all applications, dishwashers need rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 4.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Johnson County Iowa City university and industrial corridor and the Iowa River PFAS background contribute to North Liberty's readings.
Geology & Source: North Liberty in Johnson County draws from the North Liberty Water Division on the Iowa River (Johnson County, east-central Iowa) — the Iowa River drains the Iowa Till Plain (Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite, Cambrian Jordan Sandstone, calcareous Pleistocene Iowan Surface till) — Iowa Johnson County Iowa River carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 203 mg/L with TDS 379 mg/L in this Johnson County Iowa city.