Kirksville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
471.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.56
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 Kirksville, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Kirksville | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -52% |
| Water Heater | 7.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -52% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Kirksville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Kirksville, Missouri | 210 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Moberly, Missouri | 284.5 mg/L | 8.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Ottumwa, Iowa | 313.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Quincy, Illinois | 182 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Marshall, Missouri | 161 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Kirksville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Kirksville | 210 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Kirksville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Kirksville, Missouri, in Adair County — the Adair County seat adjacent to La Plata in northeast Missouri, home of Truman State University and the founding city of osteopathic medicine — receives its municipal water from the Kirksville Water Division, drawing from Hazel Creek Lake (Adair County) through the Kirksville treatment plant.
The very hard 210 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 471.3 mg/L reflect the northeast Missouri Glaciated Plains' Ordovician-Devonian carbonate character — harder than the Mississippi River corridor communities (Hannibal: 157 mg/L), reflecting the more carbonate-rich northeast Missouri upland supply. Hazel Creek Lake drains the northeast Missouri uplands — Ordovician Jefferson City Dolomite and Gasconade Dolomite (the dominant Missouri carbonate platform — very high dissolved carbonate), Devonian Burlington Limestone (high-purity calcite), and calcareous Pleistocene Kansan till (ground-up dolomite and limestone).
At 210 mg/L, Kirksville's water is very hard — scale builds rapidly in kettles and appliances, and a water softener is strongly recommended. Monthly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Adair County agricultural corridor (PFAS from northeast Missouri corn-soybean field applications), the Hazel Creek watershed runoff, and the northeast Missouri PFAS background contribute to Kirksville's readings.
Geology & Source: Kirksville in Adair County draws from the Kirksville Water Division on Hazel Creek Lake (Adair County, northeast Missouri) — Hazel Creek drains the Missouri Glaciated Plains (Ordovician Jefferson City Dolomite, Devonian Burlington Limestone, calcareous Pleistocene Kansan till) — Missouri Adair County Ordovician-Devonian carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 210 mg/L with TDS 471.3 mg/L in this Adair County Missouri city.