Rolla Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.7 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
696.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.72
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 Rolla, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rolla | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -70% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rolla compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rolla, Missouri | 269.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri | 202.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Jefferson City, Missouri | 188.5 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Fulton, Missouri | 210.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lebanon, Missouri | 174.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Rolla compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rolla | 269.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Rolla home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Rolla's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rolla, Missouri, in Phelps County — the Phelps County seat in the Missouri Ozarks, home of the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) (formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla — one of the nation's top engineering and mining universities), a classic Ozark Plateau college and mining heritage city on Route 66 — receives its municipal water from the City of Rolla Water Utilities, which draws from Roubidoux Creek (a direct tributary of the Gasconade River) in Phelps County, or from the Gasconade River surface water intake.
The extremely hard 269.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 696.2 mg/L reflect the Roubidoux Creek-Gasconade River watershed's extreme Ozark carbonate geology. Roubidoux Creek and the Gasconade River drain the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Dome — the deepest erosional exposure of the Ozark Dome's ancient carbonate core. The bedrock includes the Ordovician Gasconade Dolomite (the spring-bearing dolomite), the Ordovician Roubidoux Formation (cherty dolomite — Rolla is literally named for this formation's character), the Cambrian Gasconade Dolomite, and the Derby-Doe Run Dolomite. These exceptionally carbonate-rich Ordovician-Cambrian Ozark formations produce among the hardest spring and river water in Missouri.
At 269.5 mg/L with TDS 696 mg/L, Rolla's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration is advisable given the high TDS. The PFAS level of 8.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Fort Leonard Wood (US Army Engineer School — a major AFFF user in the Gasconade River watershed in Pulaski County) is the primary PFAS source for the Phelps-Pulaski County Ozark water corridor.
Geology & Source: Rolla in Phelps County draws from Rolla Water Utilities treating Roubidoux Creek or the Gasconade River — the Gasconade River drains the Ozark Plateau (Ordovician Gasconade Dolomite, Roubidoux Formation dolomite and sandstone, Cambrian Derby-Doe Run Dolomite) — Ozark Plateau Ordovician-Cambrian dolomite drainage produces extremely hard water at 269.5 mg/L with high TDS 696 mg/L in this Phelps County Missouri city.