Waukee Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
19.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
865.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.91
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 Waukee, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Waukee | 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 Waukee compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waukee, Iowa | 339.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Clive, Iowa | 290 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Urbandale, Iowa | 238 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| West Des Moines, Iowa | 133.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Waukee compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waukee | 339.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Waukee's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Waukee, Iowa, in Dallas County — a Dallas County city adjacent to Des Moines in the fastest-growing metro area in Iowa, a major suburban growth center in the Iowa Des Moines corridor — receives its municipal water from the Des Moines Water Works or the Waukee Water Utility, drawing from the Raccoon River at the Des Moines metropolitan intake system serving Dallas County.
The very hard 339.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 865.2 mg/L reflect the Raccoon River watershed's Iowa Till Plain extreme carbonate geology — one of the hardest river supplies in the entire United States. The Raccoon River drains central Iowa's Iowa Till Plain — terrain underlain by the Devonian Wapsipinicon Formation and Cedar Valley Limestone (thick Devonian carbonate platform), the Silurian Hopkinton Dolomite, and an extremely thick sequence of calcareous Pleistocene Kansan and Illinoian glacial till. The combination of deep calcareous till, Devonian limestone bedrock, and agricultural gypsum use in the watershed produces the extreme hardness characteristic of the Raccoon River-Des Moines supply.
At 339.5 mg/L with TDS 865 mg/L, Waukee's water is very hard. A whole-house water softener is strongly recommended and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration is advisable. The PFAS level of 7.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Des Moines industrial corridor and the Iowa agricultural PFAS background (agricultural tile drainage carrying PFAS from agrochemical application into the Raccoon River) contribute to Waukee's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Waukee in Dallas County draws from the Waukee Water Utility or Des Moines Water Works on the Raccoon River (Des Moines metro, Dallas County) — the Raccoon drains the Iowa Till Plain (calcareous Pleistocene glacial till, Devonian Iowa limestone over Silurian dolomite) — Iowa Till Plain Devonian limestone and Silurian dolomite drainage produces very hard water at 339.5 mg/L with very high TDS 865 mg/L in this Dallas County Iowa city.