Parsons Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
23 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1243.6 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 Parsons, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Parsons | 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 Parsons compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Parsons, Kansas | 393 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Pittsburg, Kansas | 423 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Miami, Oklahoma | 317 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Joplin, Missouri | 219.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Webb City, Missouri | 254.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Parsons compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Parsons | 393 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Parsons home
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What Makes Parsons's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Parsons, Kansas, in Labette County — the Labette County seat adjacent to Pittsburg and Chanute in the southeast Kansas Osage Plains — receives its water from the City of Parsons Water Department, drawing from Labette Creek and local wells through the southeast Kansas distribution.
The extremely hard 393 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,243.6 mg/L reflect the Labette County supply's extreme southeast Kansas evaporitic character — the Pennsylvanian Marmaton Group and Permian Wellington Formation are calcareous-evaporitic formations in the southeast Kansas Osage Plains; the local groundwater wells draw from deep Pennsylvanian-Permian evaporitic basin zones where millennia of sulfate and carbonate mineral loading produce extreme hardness and very high TDS (compare Pittsburg KS: 388/1229 in Crawford County comparable; Chanute KS: 396/1258 in Neosho County comparable; Parsons consistent extremely hard from the same Labette County Labette Creek Pennsylvanian evaporitic supply). The Labette Creek/Marmaton supply — Pennsylvanian Marmaton Group (calcareous evaporitic — primary hardness contributor), Permian Wellington Formation (evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary southeast Kansas alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 393 mg/L with TDS 1,244, Parsons' water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 5.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Parsons' annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Parsons in Labette County draws from the Parsons Water on the Spring River/Labette Creek wells (Labette County, southeast Kansas) — the southeast Kansas Osage Plains at Labette County draws from Pennsylvanian Marmaton Group (calcareous evaporitic) and Permian Wellington Formation (evaporitic) — Kansas Labette County Labette Creek Pennsylvanian evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 393 mg/L with TDS 1243.6 mg/L.