Atchison Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
466.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.51
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 Atchison, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Atchison | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -61% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8 yrs | 15 yrs | -47% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Atchison compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Atchison, Kansas | 190.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Leavenworth, Kansas | 376.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Saint Joseph, Missouri | 118.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Lansing, Kansas | 367 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Lawrence, Kansas | 372.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Atchison compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Atchison | 190.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Atchison's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Atchison, Kansas, in Atchison County — the Atchison County seat adjacent to Leavenworth and Hiawatha on the Missouri River in northeast Kansas — receives its water from the City of Atchison Water Department, drawing from the Missouri River alluvial aquifer through the northeast Kansas distribution.
The hard 190.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 466.6 mg/L reflect the Atchison County Missouri River supply's hard calcareous character — the Pennsylvanian Lansing Formation and Quaternary Missouri River alluvium contribute calcareous mineral content from the Great Plains alluvial deposits and limestone outcrop corridor along the northeast Kansas Missouri River (compare Leavenworth KS: 186/455 in Leavenworth County comparable; Hiawatha KS: 194/477 in Brown County comparable; Atchison consistent hard from the same Atchison County Missouri River Pennsylvanian calcareous supply). The Missouri River alluvial aquifer — Pennsylvanian Lansing Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Quaternary Missouri River alluvium (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Holocene Missouri River terrace alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 190.5 mg/L with TDS 467, Atchison's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.0 ppt is low — a clean result for northeast Kansas. Review the City of Atchison's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Atchison in Atchison County draws from the Atchison Water on the Missouri River aquifer (Atchison County, northeast Kansas) — the Missouri River at Atchison County draws from Pennsylvanian Lansing Formation (calcareous) and Quaternary Missouri River alluvium (calcareous) — Kansas Atchison County Missouri River Pennsylvanian calcareous supply produces hard water at 190.5 mg/L with TDS 466.6 mg/L.