How does Urbandale's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Urbandale (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Urbandale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

river

pH Level

8.4

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

485.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Urbandale, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Urbandale	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Urbandale compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Urbandale, Iowa	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Clive, Iowa	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Johnston, Iowa	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
West Des Moines, Iowa	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river
Grimes, Iowa	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Urbandale compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Urbandale	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Urbandale's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 485.8 mg/LpH: 8.4

Urbandale Water Utility, based in Urbandale, IA (Polk County), purchases all treated water from Des Moines Water Works and distributes it to residential and commercial customers throughout the city, serving ZIP 50322 and surrounding areas. The primary raw water sources are surface water drawn from the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River, treated at Des Moines Water Works facilities before delivery into Urbandale's distribution system. The utility can be reached at 515-278-3940 at 3720 86th St, Urbandale, IA 50322.

The Des Moines River and Raccoon River form the key watershed, draining central Iowa's glaciated terrain underlain by Devonian and Mississippian limestone bedrock exposed in river valleys. Pleistocene glacial deposits overlay these formations, enhancing mineral dissolution as water percolates through the karst-influenced strata. The rivers accumulate dissolved carbonates from karstic limestone aquifers and glacial till overburden, creating a hard supply before treatment blending and softening steps at Des Moines Water Works.

Hard water promotes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers, as calcium deposits reduce efficiency and increase energy costs over time. Maintenance includes regular vinegar descaling for appliances, inspecting fixtures for white residue, and annual water heater flushing. A whole-house water softener is recommended for hard supplies to prevent damage, extend appliance life, and improve soap efficiency. Third-party analysis rates the supply C- overall, flagging 3 contaminants exceeding EPA MCLGs — including Chromium-6 — though no MCL violations are reported.

Geology & Source: Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers traverse Paleozoic karstic limestone bedrock with glacial till overburden; carbonate dissolution yields a hard supply typical of Iowa's interior plains

Other Iowa Water Reports

Clive

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Johnston

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

West Des Moines

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Grimes

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Urbandale's water safe to drink?

Yes. Urbandale's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Urbandale?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Urbandale's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Urbandale compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Urbandale (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Urbandale is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.