Urbandale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.9 grains per gallon
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
$0.63
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 Urbandale, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Urbandale | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -80% |
| Washing Machine | 4.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -60% |
| Water Heater | 6.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -59% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Urbandale compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Urbandale, Iowa | 238 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Clive, Iowa | 290 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| West Des Moines, Iowa | 133.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 214 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Urbandale compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Urbandale | 238 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Urbandale's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Urbandale, Iowa, in Polk County west of Des Moines — a major Des Moines west suburban community, home of the Iowa Hall of Pride, the Urbandale community sports and recreation corridor, and a fast-growing Polk County community with a significant South Asian and Bosnian-American population in the northwest Des Moines metro — draws its municipal water supply from Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) distributed to Urbandale. Water hardness in Urbandale measures 238 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Urbandale's very hard supply — very hard like the Des Moines core — reflects the Polk County central Iowa calcareous glacial terrain and the Des Moines Buried Valley Aquifer characteristics. The Des Moines Buried Valley Aquifer (the pre-glacial Des Moines River valley alluvial aquifer, buried beneath Wisconsin Age glacial till) draws from: Polk County Wisconsin Age Des Moines Lobe calcareous glacial till and outwash (transported from the calcareous Minnesota–Iowa Ordovician dolomite terrain by the Laurentide Ice Sheet); the Ordovician Galena Group and Prairie du Chien Group dolomite (highly calcareous dolomite subcropping in north Iowa, contributing dissolved calcium to the buried valley aquifer recharge); and the Des Moines River alluvial recharge. The calcareous Wisconsin glacial terrain produces the very hard 238 mg/L at Urbandale.
At 238 mg/L, Urbandale residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on all fixtures and tile — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is essential maintenance. Des Moines Water Works consistently delivers water meeting all Iowa DNR and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Des Moines Buried Valley Aquifer via the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) distributed to Urbandale — the Polk County central Iowa calcareous glacial outwash (Wisconsin Age Des Moines Lobe Till from the Ordovician calcareous dolomite Minnesota–Iowa terrain); very hard supply at 238 mg/L in Polk County.