Washington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
566.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.63
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 Washington, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Washington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -79% |
| Washing Machine | 4.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -60% |
| Water Heater | 6.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -59% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Washington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Washington, Missouri | 236.5 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Wentzville, Missouri | 267.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lake Saint Louis, Missouri | 134.5 mg/L | 4.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Wildwood, Missouri | 118.5 mg/L | 4.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Dardenne Prairie, Missouri | 289.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Washington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Washington | 236.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Washington home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Washington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Washington, Missouri, in Franklin County — a Franklin County city adjacent to Union and Hermann on the Missouri River in east-central Missouri — receives its water from Washington Utilities, drawing from the Missouri River (Franklin County) through the east-central Missouri distribution.
The very hard 236.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 566.8 mg/L reflect the east-central Missouri Missouri River supply's very hard calcareous-evaporitic character — consistent with other Missouri River Missouri communities receiving the highly mineralized Missouri River supply from the Great Plains evaporitic and Mississippian calcareous drainage. The Missouri River at Franklin County — Permian Red Bed evaporitic gypsiferous formations from upstream Kansas-Nebraska drainage (primary TDS contributor), Mississippian Burlington-Keokuk Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Ordovician calcareous formations (calcareous — secondary contributor).
At 236.5 mg/L with TDS 566, Washington's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended and a reverse osmosis system for drinking water is advisable. The PFAS level of 7.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Franklin County east-central Missouri industrial corridor and the Missouri River basin PFAS legacy contribute to Washington's readings.
Geology & Source: Washington in Franklin County draws from the Washington Utilities on the Missouri River (Franklin County, east-central Missouri) — the Missouri at Franklin County drains the Great Plains (Permian evaporitic formations — primary TDS contributor) and Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous) — Missouri Franklin County Missouri River Great Plains evaporitic-calcareous watershed produces very hard water at 236.5 mg/L with TDS 566.8 mg/L.