Lexington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
22.8 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1270.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Lexington, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lexington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Lexington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lexington, Nebraska | 390.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Kearney, Nebraska | 318 mg/L | 4.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| North Platte, Nebraska | 265.5 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Hastings, Nebraska | 126 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Grand Island, Nebraska | 383.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Lexington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lexington | 390.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lexington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lexington, Nebraska, in Dawson County — the Dawson County seat adjacent to Kearney and Cozad on the Platte River in south-central Nebraska — receives its water from the City of Lexington Water Department, drawing from the Platte River alluvium wells through the south-central Nebraska distribution.
The extremely hard 390.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,270.5 mg/L reflect the Dawson County supply's extreme Nebraska High Plains evaporitic character — the Quaternary Platte River alluvium and Pliocene Ogallala Formation are calcareous-evaporitic formations in the Nebraska High Plains; the shallow Platte River alluvium wells draw from groundwater concentrated by evaporation and wind-blown loess-derived mineral content in the Nebraska Sandhills and High Plains (compare Kearney NE: 386/1256 in Buffalo County comparable; Cozad NE: 394/1285 in Dawson County comparable; Lexington consistent extremely hard from the same Dawson County Platte River Pliocene evaporitic supply). The Platte River alluvium — Quaternary Platte River alluvium (calcareous evaporitic — primary hardness contributor), Pliocene Ogallala Formation (calcareous evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Nebraska loess (evaporitic — TDS contributor).
At 390.5 mg/L with TDS 1,271, Lexington's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 5.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Lexington's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Lexington in Dawson County draws from the Lexington Water on the Platte River alluvium wells (Dawson County, south-central Nebraska) — the Nebraska Sandhills/High Plains at Dawson County draws from Quaternary Ogallala/Republican River alluvium (calcareous evaporitic) and Pliocene Ogallala Formation (calcareous evaporitic) — Nebraska Dawson County Platte River Pliocene evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 390.5 mg/L with TDS 1270.5 mg/L.