Pierre Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
17.2 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
862.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.79
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 Pierre, your appliances are currently losing 39% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Pierre | 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 Pierre compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pierre, South Dakota | 294.5 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Huron, South Dakota | 299 mg/L | 3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Aberdeen, South Dakota | 269.5 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Mitchell, South Dakota | 118 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Bismarck, North Dakota | 316 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Pierre compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Pierre | 294.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Pierre's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Pierre, South Dakota, in Hughes County — the South Dakota state capital and Hughes County seat adjacent to Fort Pierre on the Missouri River in central South Dakota — receives its water from the Pierre Water Department, drawing from the Missouri River (Hughes County) through the central South Dakota water treatment system.
The extremely hard 294.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 862.9 mg/L reflect the central South Dakota Missouri River supply's extreme Great Plains evaporitic character — consistent with other Missouri River Great Plains communities (Canton IL: 264 mg/L; Lakeway TX: 915 TDS) where the Cretaceous Pierre Shale calcareous and gypsum-bearing White River Group formations contribute extreme mineral dissolution. The Missouri River at Hughes County drains the Great Plains — Cretaceous Pierre Shale (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Paleogene White River Group (gypsiferous — primary TDS contributor), and minor Precambrian Black Hills crystalline (insoluble — dilutant).
At 294.5 mg/L with TDS 862, Pierre's water is extremely hard. A water softener is strongly recommended, and a reverse osmosis system is essential for drinking water due to the very high TDS. The PFAS level of 3.0 ppt is relatively low — the central South Dakota Missouri River corridor has limited adjacent AFFF military sources, though some contribution from upstream installations is possible.
Geology & Source: Pierre in Hughes County draws from the Pierre Water Department on the Missouri River (Hughes County, central South Dakota) — the Missouri at Hughes drains the Great Plains (Cretaceous Pierre Shale — calcareous) and Permian evaporitic White River formations (gypsum — primary TDS contributor) — South Dakota Hughes County Missouri River Great Plains Pierre Shale-evaporitic watershed produces extremely hard water at 294.5 mg/L with TDS 862.9 mg/L.