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

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

Pittsburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.7

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

1383.8 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 Pittsburg, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Pittsburg	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 Pittsburg compares to its nearest neighbours

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

National Benchmark

How Pittsburg compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Pittsburg	≈ 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 Pittsburg's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 1383.8 mg/LpH: 7.7

PITTSBURG, CITY OF serves 20,738 people across Pittsburg in Crawford County, Kansas (ZIP 66762). Water is sourced from local groundwater wells tapping the Cherokee Group aquifers. Treatment occurs at the City of Pittsburg Water Treatment Plant located at 602 S. Free King Hwy., Pittsburg, KS 66762. The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report confirms no violations in 2023, available via pittks.org.

The supply originates from the Cherokee Platform watershed in southeast Kansas, where Pennsylvanian-age Cherokee Shale and sandstone formations dominate. Groundwater flows through the Bartlesville and Burbank sands, along with Swope Limestone and related dolomite layers, forming a confined aquifer system. This geology imparts a hard character to the water due to natural dissolution of carbonate minerals during subsurface transit through these ancient shallow marine deposits, resulting in a highly mineralised supply.

At very hard levels, scale buildup accelerates in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and shortening appliance life. Laundry feels stiff, soap lathering is poor, and spots appear on glassware. Maintenance tips include regular descaling of fixtures, installing sediment filters, and flushing hot water tanks biannually. A water softener is strongly recommended. The 2024 CCR reports no violations for 2023, with groundwater treated via chlorine disinfection. High TDS impacts taste; consult the official CCR at pittks.org for full contaminant details including pH and lead/copper data.

Geology & Source: Cherokee Platform, SE Kansas — Pennsylvanian Cherokee Shale Group; Bartlesville and Burbank sands interbedded with Swope Limestone and dolomite layers; prolonged groundwater contact with carbonate minerals produces very hard water high in calcium

Other Kansas Water Reports

Webb City

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Joplin

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Carthage

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Parsons

≈ 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 Pittsburg's water safe to drink?

Yes. Pittsburg'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 Pittsburg?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Pittsburg'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 Pittsburg compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Pittsburg (≈ 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 Pittsburg 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.