Waverly Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
249 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Waverly | 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 Waverly compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waverly, Iowa | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 48.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Cedar Falls, Iowa | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Waterloo, Iowa | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 48.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Marshalltown, Iowa | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 0 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Mason City, Iowa | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Waverly compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Waverly | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Waverly home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Waverly's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Waverly Water Department supplies the city of Waverly, located in Bremer County, Iowa. While specific treatment plant details and primary sources aren't fully detailed online, the utility operates a municipal system serving the Waverly area and nearby communities. Publicly available information indicates the water supply is drawn from groundwater, influenced by the Cedar River watershed and the region's underlying Devonian-age carbonate geology. These limestone and dolomite formations within the Cedar Valley Group are known to introduce dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, into the water supply. This geological setting is characteristic of central and eastern Iowa.
The bedrock geology in Waverly consists of Devonian-age limestone and dolomite formations, specifically the Cedar Valley Group. As groundwater percolates through these carbonate rock units, it readily dissolves calcium and magnesium. This process leads to the naturally hard water that is typical for this region of northeastern Iowa. The mineral content contributes to the water's overall quality and characteristics, reflecting the geological history of the area.
Because the water is hard, homeowners in Waverly will likely find that scale buildup can affect pipes, water heaters, and appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. You might also notice reduced efficiency with soaps and detergents. To combat mineral deposits and maintain appliance longevity, installing a whole-house or point-of-use water softener is a practical recommendation. Additionally, the Waverly Water Department reported an exceedance of an EPA interim health advisory for PFAS in 2025, with three contaminants found above EPA health-based guidelines in at least one served city. Residents should review the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for detailed information.
Geology & Source: Devonian-age limestone and dolomite of the Cedar Valley Group; carbonate bedrock readily dissolves calcium and magnesium, creating hard water
Other Iowa Water Reports
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 Waverly's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Waverly?
How does Waverly compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Waverly is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.