Chalco Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.6 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
616.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.62
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 Chalco, your appliances are currently losing 31% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Chalco | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -78% |
| Washing Machine | 5 yrs | 12 yrs | -58% |
| Water Heater | 6.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -58% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Chalco compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chalco, Nebraska | 232 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Papillion, Nebraska | 425 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| La Vista, Nebraska | 357 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Omaha, Nebraska | 385.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Bellevue, Nebraska | 342.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Chalco compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Chalco | 232 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Chalco home
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What Makes Chalco's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Chalco, Nebraska, in Sarpy County — a Sarpy County unincorporated community adjacent to Papillion and La Vista in the Omaha metropolitan area — receives its water from Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) or Sarpy County RWD, drawing from the Missouri River and Omaha area groundwater through the east Nebraska distribution.
The very hard 232 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 616.9 mg/L reflect the Sarpy County Missouri River supply's very hard calcareous character — the Cretaceous Pierre Shale and Quaternary Missouri River alluvium concentrate calcareous mineral content in the east Nebraska Platte-Missouri River confluence zone (compare Papillion NE: 228/606 in Sarpy County comparable; La Vista NE: 235/627 in Sarpy County comparable; Chalco consistent very hard from the same Sarpy County Missouri River Cretaceous calcareous supply). The Missouri River aquifer — Cretaceous Pierre Shale (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Quaternary Missouri River alluvium (highly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Platte River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 232 mg/L with TDS 617, Chalco's water is very hard — a water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing and appliances. The PFAS level of 3.5 ppt is low — a clean result for the Omaha metro. Review Metropolitan Utilities District's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Chalco in Sarpy County draws from the Sarpy County Utilities on the Missouri River supply (Sarpy County, east Nebraska) — the Sarpy County aquifer draws from Cretaceous Pierre Shale (calcareous) and Quaternary Missouri River alluvium (highly calcareous) — Nebraska Sarpy County Missouri River Cretaceous calcareous supply produces very hard water at 232 mg/L with TDS 616.9 mg/L.