Waverly Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
20.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
882.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.92
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 Waverly, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Waverly | 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 Waverly compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waverly, Iowa | 343.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Cedar Falls, Iowa | 163 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Waterloo, Iowa | 331 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Marshalltown, Iowa | 180.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Mason City, Iowa | 187.5 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Waverly compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waverly | 343.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Waverly's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Waverly, Iowa, in Bremer County — the Bremer County seat adjacent to Waterloo and Charles City on the Cedar River in northeast Iowa — receives its water from the City of Waverly Water Department, drawing from the Cedar River and local wells through the northeast Iowa distribution.
The extremely hard 343.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 882.2 mg/L reflect the Bremer County supply's extreme northeast Iowa carbonate character — the Ordovician Galena Group and Quaternary Iowa glacial till are calcareous formations in the northeast Iowa drift plain; the Cedar River at Bremer County flows through the Ordovician carbonate-rich northeast Iowa geology, producing very high hardness and TDS (compare Waterloo IA: 339/872 in Black Hawk County comparable; Charles City IA: 347/892 in Floyd County comparable; Waverly consistent extremely hard from the same Bremer County Cedar River Ordovician calcareous supply). The Cedar River at Bremer County — Ordovician Galena Group (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Quaternary Iowa glacial till (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Cedar River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 343.5 mg/L with TDS 882, Waverly's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking. The PFAS level of 7.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Waverly's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Waverly in Bremer County draws from the Waverly Water on the Cedar River/Iowa alluvium wells (Bremer County, northeast Iowa) — the northeast Iowa drift plain at Bremer County draws from Ordovician Galena Group (calcareous) and Quaternary Iowa glacial till (calcareous) — Iowa Bremer County Cedar River Ordovician calcareous supply produces extremely hard water at 343.5 mg/L with TDS 882.2 mg/L.