How does Dodge City's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Dodge City (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Dodge City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

353 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Dodge City	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Dodge City compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Dodge City, Kansas	≈ 180+ mg/L	3.7 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Garden City, Kansas	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Liberal, Kansas	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Hays, Kansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	31.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Great Bend, Kansas	≈ 180+ mg/L	704.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Dodge City compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Dodge City	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Dodge City's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 353 mg/LpH: 7.2

The City of Dodge City Utilities Department provides drinking water to approximately 27,000–28,000 residents in Dodge City, Kansas, located in Ford County. Water is sourced exclusively from groundwater wells tapping the Ogallala Aquifer, a vast High Plains aquifer spanning multiple states. The utility distributes from its facility at 806 N 2nd Avenue, Dodge City, KS 67801, and can be reached at 620-225-8100. No named treatment plants are specified in available reports, but standard disinfection is applied before delivery to the community.

The supply originates from the Ogallala Aquifer portion underlying western Kansas, part of the larger High Plains region. Water percolates through Quaternary and Tertiary sands and gravels overlying Cretaceous Pierre Shale, dissolving minerals from limestone, dolomite, and evaporite deposits along the way. This geology imparts a very hard character to the water through prolonged mineral dissolution, alongside elevated total dissolved solids from deeper aquifer zones rich in calcium, magnesium, and other hardness-causing ions.

Very hard water in Dodge City causes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers, reducing efficiency and lifespan while increasing energy bills. Soap scum, dry skin, and faded laundry are common household effects. Annual maintenance such as deliming appliances is essential; a whole-house water softener is strongly recommended. The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report confirms compliance with EPA standards, though third-party analyses note 14 detected contaminants — 10 exceeding health guidelines — including arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and radium; hardness is unmitigated at the utility level.

Geology & Source: Ogallala Aquifer — Quaternary/Tertiary unconsolidated sands, gravels, silts overlying Cretaceous Pierre Shale; prolonged contact with limestone, dolomite, and gypsum-rich deposits leaches calcium and magnesium; very hard supply

Other Kansas Water Reports

Garden City

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Liberal

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Hays

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Great Bend

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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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 Dodge City's water safe to drink?

Yes. Dodge City's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Dodge City?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Dodge City's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Dodge City compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Dodge City (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Dodge City is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.