Sikeston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
633.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.68
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 Sikeston, your appliances are currently losing 34% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sikeston | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -65% |
| Water Heater | 5.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -64% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sikeston compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sikeston, Missouri | 254 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Cape Girardeau, Missouri | 227.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Jackson, Missouri | 170.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Poplar Bluff, Missouri | 102.5 mg/L | 3.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Dyersburg, Tennessee | 182 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Sikeston compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sikeston | 254 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sikeston's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sikeston, Missouri, in Scott County — the Scott County seat adjacent to New Madrid and Morehouse in the Missouri Bootheel on the lower Mississippi alluvial plain — receives its municipal water from the Sikeston Water Division, drawing from the Mississippi River at the Bootheel intake (Scott County) through the Sikeston treatment plant.
The very hard 254 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 633.7 mg/L reflect the lower Missouri Bootheel Mississippi River supply's intense carbonate character — harder than the St. Louis metro readings (Lemay: 183.5 mg/L; Concord: 189 mg/L) due to the cumulative downstream mineral loading from all the Missouri-Mississippi tributaries. The Mississippi River at the Bootheel has accumulated drainage from the Missouri Ozarks (Ordovician Gasconade Dolomite), Mississippian Salem Limestone, and the Tennessee-Ohio carbonate plain, producing progressively harder water downstream.
At 254 mg/L, Sikeston's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on heating surfaces and appliances, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 7.6 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Scott County southeast Missouri agricultural Bootheel corridor and the lower Mississippi PFAS industrial complex contribute to Sikeston's readings.
Geology & Source: Sikeston in Scott County draws from the Sikeston Water Division on the Mississippi River (Scott County, southeast Missouri Bootheel) — the Mississippi at the Bootheel drains the Missouri Ozarks (Ordovician Gasconade Dolomite, Mississippian Salem Limestone) and the Tennessee carbonate plain — Missouri Scott County Mississippi River Ozark carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 254 mg/L with TDS 633.7 mg/L in this Scott County Missouri city.