Overland Park Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
21.9 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1161 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Overland Park, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Overland Park | 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 Overland Park compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Overland Park, Kansas | 374.5 mg/L | 5.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Prairie Village, Kansas | 146 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Leawood, Kansas | 378 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Lenexa, Kansas | 383 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Shawnee, Kansas | 347.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Overland Park compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Overland Park | 374.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Overland Park's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Overland Park, Kansas receives its municipal water supply through the Johnson County Water District No. 1, one of the largest rural water districts in Kansas, blending surface water from Hillsdale Lake on the Big Bull Creek and local reservoir intakes with groundwater from the Pennsylvanian-age Cherokee Group shallow aquifer system in Johnson County. Surface water is treated at the Sunflower Water Treatment Plant and Tri-County Treatment Plant before distribution throughout the city. Water hardness in Overland Park reaches 374.5 mg/L — extremely hard, consistent with the broader Kansas City metropolitan region's characteristic water quality.
Overland Park's extreme hardness is driven by the Pennsylvanian and Permian carbonate geology of eastern Kansas. The Big Bull Creek watershed and regional aquifer systems overlie and drain through sequences of Pennsylvanian Missourian-age limestone, Desmoinesian limestone and shale, and Permian Permian Chase Group dolomite — alternating bands of calcium carbonate rock deposited in shallow epeiric seas that repeatedly covered the midcontinent. These highly soluble carbonate formations dissolve freely into groundwater and surface water throughout the region, producing the very high dissolved mineral concentrations that characterise water supply across Kansas and western Missouri.
At 374.5 mg/L, Overland Park homeowners face extreme scale management challenges. Calcium deposits accumulate heavily on shower glass, tile grout, and chrome fittings within weeks — weekly or bi-weekly cleaning with descaling solution is standard. Water heaters experience rapid element failure and sharply reduced efficiency without frequent descaling; a whole-house water softener is essentially standard equipment in Johnson County households. Dishwashers consistently leave white mineral film on glassware without rinse-aid. Despite the hardness, Johnson County Water District consistently delivers safe, EPA-compliant water throughout Overland Park.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Big Bull Creek–Stony Creek Basin and Johnson County's Pennsylvanian Cherokee Group shallow aquifers, supplemented by surface water from the Hillsdale Lake and Olathe Lake reservoir system — Pennsylvanian and Permian limestone and dolomite formations of eastern Kansas contribute extreme dissolved calcium, producing very hard supply at 374.5 mg/L.