Yankton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.8 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
522 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.54
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 Yankton, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Yankton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -66% |
| Washing Machine | 6.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -49% |
| Water Heater | 7.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -50% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Yankton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Yankton, South Dakota | 202 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Norfolk, Nebraska | 322.5 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 373 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Mitchell, South Dakota | 118 mg/L | 1.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| South Sioux City, Nebraska | 338 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Yankton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Yankton | 202 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Yankton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Yankton, South Dakota, in Yankton County — the Yankton County seat on the Missouri River adjacent to Vermillion and the Nebraska border in southeast South Dakota — receives its municipal water from the Yankton Water Division, drawing from the Missouri River (Yankton County) through the southeast South Dakota water treatment system.
The very hard 202 mg/L hardness and TDS of 522 mg/L reflect the southeast South Dakota Missouri River supply's hard Great Plains calcareous character — consistent with other Missouri River Great Plains communities (Pierre SD: ~200 mg/L; Bismarck ND: ~210 mg/L). The Missouri River at Yankton County drains the Great Plains — Cretaceous Pierre Shale (calcareous — primary hardness contributor, dominant Missouri River calcareous formation), Paleocene Fort Union Formation (calcareous lignite and shale — TDS contributor), and Quaternary alluvial terrace (calcareous glacial till). The Cretaceous and Paleocene calcareous Great Plains formations produce the very hard Missouri River supply.
At 202 mg/L with TDS 522, Yankton's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 2.3 ppt is very low — the Yankton County southeast South Dakota rural Missouri River corridor has minimal major adjacent AFFF military PFAS sources.
Geology & Source: Yankton in Yankton County draws from the Yankton Water Division on the Missouri River (Yankton County, southeast South Dakota) — the Missouri River at Yankton drains the Great Plains (Cretaceous Pierre Shale — calcareous, Paleocene Fort Union Formation — calcareous) — South Dakota Yankton County Missouri River Great Plains calcareous watershed produces very hard water at 202 mg/L with TDS 522 mg/L.