How does Parsons's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Parsons (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Parsons Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

1243.6 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Parsons, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Parsons	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Parsons compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Parsons, Kansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Pittsburg, Kansas	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Miami, Oklahoma	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Joplin, Missouri	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	river
Webb City, Missouri	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Parsons compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Parsons	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Parsons's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 1243.6 mg/LpH: 8

The City of Parsons Water Treatment Plant provides water for Parsons, Kansas, and nearby communities. Its facility, located at 1630 N. Lincoln, Parsons, KS 67357, can produce about 1.5 million gallons daily, or roughly 550 million gallons annually. The water supply comes from both Parsons Lake, a surface water source, and regional groundwater wells. The City of Parsons Public Works Department oversees the utility, which you can reach at (620) 421-7091 or (620) 421-7020.

Parsons lies in the Neosho River watershed of east-central Kansas. The area's geology is dominated by Pennsylvanian-age shale and limestone. These rock layers contain abundant carbonates that dissolve calcium and magnesium, giving the local water its characteristic hardness, a common trait for Kansas's mineral-rich groundwater systems. Parsons Lake itself faces turbidity challenges due to siltation, requiring careful management under state water quality regulations.

Residents and businesses in Parsons will notice the effects of this hard water, including scale buildup in appliances, pipes, and especially water heaters. You'll also find that soaps and detergents don't lather as easily, meaning you might use more cleaning products. Over time, this can shorten the lifespan of dishwashers and washing machines. Many households opt for whole-home or point-of-use water softeners to combat these issues. Performing regular maintenance and descaling on water-using appliances is also a wise practice.

Geology & Source: Neosho River watershed; Pennsylvanian-age shale and limestone formations; carbonate-rich strata contribute calcium and magnesium, producing hard water

Other Kansas Water Reports

Pittsburg

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Miami

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Joplin

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Webb City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 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 Parsons's water safe to drink?

Yes. Parsons's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Parsons?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Parsons'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 20%.

How does Parsons compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Parsons (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Parsons 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.