Merriam Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
432.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.48
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 Merriam, your appliances are currently losing 24% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Merriam | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -56% |
| Washing Machine | 7 yrs | 12 yrs | -42% |
| Water Heater | 8.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -44% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Merriam compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Merriam, Kansas | 179.5 mg/L | 2.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Shawnee, Kansas | 347.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Overland Park, Kansas | 374.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Prairie Village, Kansas | 146 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Lenexa, Kansas | 383 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Merriam compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Merriam | 179.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Merriam's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Merriam, Kansas, in Johnson County — a Johnson County city adjacent to Shawnee and Roeland Park in the Kansas City metro west suburbs — receives its water from Johnson County Water District or Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, drawing from the Missouri River through the northeast Kansas distribution.
The hard 179.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 432.9 mg/L reflect the Johnson County Missouri River supply's hard calcareous character — the Pennsylvanian Kansas City Group limestone and Mississippian Warsaw Limestone are highly calcareous formations in the Kansas City area limestone belt, and the Missouri River at Kansas City acquires substantial dissolved mineral content from its Great Plains drainage (compare Shawnee KS: 176/424 in Johnson County comparable; Roeland Park KS: 182/441 in Johnson County comparable; Merriam consistent hard from the same Johnson County Missouri River Pennsylvanian calcareous supply). The Missouri River at Johnson County — Pennsylvanian Kansas City Group limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Mississippian Warsaw Limestone (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Missouri River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 179.5 mg/L with TDS 433, Merriam's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 2.9 ppt is low — a clean result for the Kansas City area. Review Johnson County Water District's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Merriam in Johnson County draws from the Johnson County Water on the Missouri River supply (Johnson County, northeast Kansas) — the Missouri River at Johnson County drains Pennsylvanian Kansas City Group limestone (calcareous) and Mississippian Warsaw Limestone (calcareous) — Kansas Johnson County Missouri River Pennsylvanian calcareous supply produces hard water at 179.5 mg/L with TDS 432.9 mg/L.