Pella Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
21.2 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
968.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.97
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 Pella, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Pella | 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 Pella compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pella, Iowa | 363 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Oskaloosa, Iowa | 300.5 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Newton, Iowa | 176.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Altoona, Iowa | 276 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ottumwa, Iowa | 313.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Pella compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pella | 363 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Pella home
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What Makes Pella's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Pella, Iowa, in Marion County — a Marion County city adjacent to Knoxville and Oskaloosa on the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa — receives its water from the City of Pella Water Department, drawing from the Des Moines River through the south-central Iowa distribution.
The extremely hard 363 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 968.1 mg/L reflect the Marion County supply's extreme calcareous dolomitic character — the Devonian Iowa Formation and Silurian Niagaran Dolomite are calcareous-highly dolomitic formations in the Iowa limestone plateau; the Des Moines River at Marion County acquires extreme dissolved mineral content from its extensive Iowa Devonian carbonate-dolomite drainage (compare Knoxville IA: 358/956 in Marion County comparable; Oskaloosa IA: 367/979 in Mahaska County comparable; Pella consistent extremely hard from the same Marion County Des Moines River Devonian calcareous supply). The Des Moines River at Marion County — Devonian Iowa Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Des Moines Lobe glacial till (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 363 mg/L with TDS 968, Pella's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 7.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Pella's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Pella in Marion County draws from the Pella Water on the Des Moines River supply (Marion County, south-central Iowa) — the Iowa Des Moines Lobe at Marion County draws from Devonian Iowa Formation (calcareous) and Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) — Iowa Marion County Des Moines River Devonian calcareous supply produces extremely hard water at 363 mg/L with TDS 968.1 mg/L.