West Des Moines Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
202.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.36
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 West Des Moines, your appliances are currently losing 18% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In West Des Moines | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -39% |
| Washing Machine | 8.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -28% |
| Water Heater | 10.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -31% |
Regional Water Comparison
How West Des Moines compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Des Moines, Iowa | 133.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Clive, Iowa | 290 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Urbandale, Iowa | 238 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Johnston, Iowa | 324.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 214 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How West Des Moines compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ West Des Moines | 133.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes West Des Moines's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
West Des Moines, Iowa, in Dallas County west of Des Moines — one of Iowa's fastest-growing and most affluent suburbs, home to major insurance companies (Principal Financial Group headquarters area) and the Jordan Creek Town Center — draws its municipal water supply from the Raccoon River (and the Des Moines River) via the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) regional water utility, treating Raccoon River and Des Moines River water for the greater Des Moines metropolitan area including West Des Moines. Water hardness in West Des Moines measures 133.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
West Des Moines's moderate hardness reflects the Raccoon River supply at the Des Moines area. The Raccoon River above the Des Moines Water Works intake at Fleur Drive drains: the Quaternary Wisconsin glacial till and Iowa loess of west-central Iowa (calcareous, heavy clay till derived from Pennsylvanian and Mississippian limestone bedrock); and the Pennsylvanian Cherokee Group shale and coal and Mississippian Burlington and Keokuk Limestone formations of the Raccoon River valley. The Des Moines Water Works is famous for its lawsuit against Iowa agricultural nitrate drainage (2015–2017) — the Raccoon River's agricultural tile drainage also carries moderate dissolved calcium from calcareous Iowa soils. The moderately hard 133.5 mg/L reflects the DMWW treatment of this calcareous agricultural watershed supply.
At 133.5 mg/L, West Des Moines residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Des Moines Water Works consistently delivers water meeting all Iowa DNR and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Raccoon River and Des Moines River via the Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) — the Iowa Raccoon River and Des Moines River basin (Quaternary calcareous Iowa loess and glacial till, Mississippian–Pennsylvanian calcareous formations) of Dallas County; moderately hard supply at 133.5 mg/L in Dallas County.