West Des Moines Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

West Des Moines Water Works (WDMWW) serves approximately 68,723 people across West Des Moines, Iowa. The utility draws from three sources: 19 shallow wells (40–50 feet deep) in the Raccoon River Alluvial aquifer supply about 50% of demand; 3 deep wells (2,500 feet) tapping the Jordan Aquifer provide 30%; and the remaining 20% is purchased treated water from Des Moines Water Works, sourced from the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. The utility applies softening treatment to reduce raw water hardness before distribution.

The Raccoon River watershed and underlying aquifers sit in a region dominated by Carboniferous limestone bedrock. As water percolates through and over these limestone formations, it dissolves calcium and magnesium minerals, creating a naturally hard supply. The shallow alluvial aquifer averages 370 mg/L hardness before treatment, while the deeper Jordan Aquifer and surface river sources blend into the final supply — a geological character typical of central Iowa's dominant limestone stratigraphy.

After treatment, tap water is classified as hard, causing scale buildup in kettles, coffee makers, and water heaters, and reducing soap and detergent efficiency. Dishwashers and washing machines require higher detergent doses and more frequent maintenance. A water softener (point-of-use or whole-house) is recommended to reduce scale and improve appliance longevity, though the utility's softening process already reduces raw hardness by more than half. The utility reports a quality grade of B (Good) with 2 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines among 117+ tested; fluoride is added at approximately 1 ppm.