Dodge City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.4 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
912.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.84
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 Dodge City, your appliances are currently losing 42% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dodge City | 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 Dodge City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dodge City, Kansas | 315.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Garden City, Kansas | 334 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Liberal, Kansas | 384.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Hays, Kansas | 175.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Great Bend, Kansas | 457.5 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Dodge City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dodge City | 315.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dodge City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Dodge City, Kansas, the Ford County seat — a major southwest Kansas High Plains cattle and history city (Dodge City is the Ford County seat and one of the most iconic cities in American Western history — the 'Queen of the Cow Towns'; Dodge City was the most famous and wild cattle town on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in the 1870s and 1880s (Dodge City's infamous Boot Hill Cemetery, Long Branch Saloon, and the legendary lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson define the mythology of the Wild West — virtually every Dodge City reference in American popular culture derives from this cattle drive era); the Kansas Cattle Drive era (1867–1885) was one of the most important economic periods in American frontier history; an estimated 5–7 million Longhorn cattle were driven up the Chisholm and Western Trails to Dodge City for railroad shipment); today Dodge City is a major beef processing city — home of several of the largest beef packing plants in the United States, making it one of the most important beef production centers in the country — draws its municipal water supply via the City of Dodge City Water Division. Water hardness in Dodge City measures 315.5 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Dodge City's very hard supply reflects the southwest Kansas Ford County High Plains Ogallala aquifer's highly calcareous character. The Ogallala aquifer draws from Quaternary calcareous High Plains caliche (highly calcareous). Very limited softening produces the very hard 315.5 mg/L.
At 315.5 mg/L, Dodge City residents face severe hard water challenges. Water softeners and regular appliance descaling are essential. City of Dodge City Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Kansas KDHE and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the High Plains Aquifer (Ogallala Formation) via the City of Dodge City Water Division — the Ford County southwest Kansas Dodge City corridor (Quaternary calcareous Ogallala caliche — the extremely calcareous southwest Kansas High Plains caliche aquifer; very limited softening); very hard at 315.5 mg/L in Ford County.