Is Des Moines, IA Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, Des Moines tap water is safe to drink. No contaminants exceed health guidelines. However, Des Moines has very hard water at 200 PPM, which will cause scale buildup in plumbing and appliances over time. A water softener is worth considering.
Hardness Scale: Where Des Moines Falls
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
How Des Moines Compares
Des Moines's water is 45% harder than the national average of 138 PPM. It ranks #309 out of 1000 cities in our database (harder than 69% of US cities we track). Within Iowa, it ranks #10 of 13 cities (16% below the state average of 239 PPM). Among large cities (200k-500k), Des Moines ranks #47 of 165 for hardness. At this hardness level, water heaters run an estimated 37% less efficiently due to scale insulation, and major water-using appliances typically last 3 years less than the national average lifespan.
What Des Moines's Water Means for Your Home
Hardness: 200 PPM - Treatment Recommended
Des Moines has some seriously hard water. At 200 PPM (11.7 grains per gallon), your tap is loaded with mineral content carried in from the watershed geology. Here's the thing: it's perfectly safe to drink. The minerals won't hurt you. But they will hurt your wallet. That adds up. Hard water at 200 PPM increases household costs through scale-coated water heaters that use more energy, extra soap and detergent, and appliances that wear out faster. Most Des Moines homeowners don't realize it until the plumber shows up. That's 16% softer than the Iowa average.
Contaminants & Safety
Lead is the main concern here. At 10 ppb, Des Moines's average is well above the health guideline of zero — there is no safe level of lead, especially for children. Lead typically enters your water from old pipes, not the source itself. Quick fix: run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking. Better fix: a certified lead-reduction filter (NSF/ANSI Standard 53) at your kitchen faucet. If your home was built before 1986, testing is strongly recommended.
What's in the Treatment Process
Des Moines's surface water supply requires heavy chlorination to stay safe — but that creates a tradeoff. The treatment process generates disinfection byproducts: TTHMs at 55.4 ppb (69% of the legal limit, but 369x the EWG guideline) and HAA5 at 10.1 ppb (17% of the legal limit, but 101x the EWG guideline). These are within legal limits, but the EWG sets much tighter thresholds based on cancer-risk research. A whole-house activated carbon filter reduces both chlorine and byproducts.
Chromium-6 was detected at 0.712 ppb, which is 36x the EWG health guideline. There's no separate federal limit for chromium-6, only total chromium. A reverse osmosis system is the most effective removal method. All measurements are within federal legal limits. The EWG guidelines represent a more conservative, health-based standard.
How Hard Water Affects Your Home
At 200 PPM, untreated hard water has measurable effects on household costs and appliance life:
- Water heater inefficiency: Scale insulation forces the heater to work harder (DOE estimates up to 22% more energy for heavily scaled units)
- Soap and detergent: Hard water reduces lathering, requiring significantly more product
- Appliance replacement: Water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines fail 2-4 years earlier due to scale buildup
- Plumbing maintenance: Scale buildup in pipes reduces flow and requires more frequent service
Note: Impact varies by household size, water usage, and local energy costs. A home water test provides the most accurate assessment for your specific situation.
| Contaminant | Detected | Health Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (as CaCO₃) | 200 PPM | < 60 PPM | No federal limit | ⚠ Very Hard |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 310 PPM | < 300 PPM | 500 PPM | ⚠ Elevated |
| PFAS (total) | 0 ppt | — | No total limit | ✓ ND |
| ↳ PFOA | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| ↳ PFOS | 0 ppt | 0 ppt | 4 ppt (2024) | ✓ OK |
| Lead | 10 ppb | 0 ppb (no safe level) | 15 ppb (10 ppb in 2027) | ⚠ Elevated |
| Chlorine / Chloramine | 0.9 mg/L | Taste threshold ~1.0 | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ Normal |
| Nitrate | 1.72 mg/L | 5 mg/L | 10 mg/L | ✓ OK |
Recommendations for Des Moines Homes
Our Top Picks for Des Moines (200 PPM)
Hard water at 200 PPM causes scale buildup, increased energy use, and premature appliance failure. A softener protects your plumbing and appliances.
How to Test Your Water in Des Moines
Lead enters water from your home's plumbing, not the treatment plant — so Des Moines's city-wide average of 10 ppb may not match your tap. Testing your specific faucet is the only way to know. Run cold water for 30 seconds before collecting a sample.
Free option: Request DMWW's annual Consumer Confidence Report for official city-level data.
📊 Already Tested Your Water?
City averages miss neighborhood-level variation. Share your results to help your neighbors get better data.
We review every submission before publishing. Your ZIP is shown; your identity is not.
About Des Moines's Water Supply
Water Utility: DMWW
Water Source: Des Moines + Raccoon Rivers (Surface Water)
Population Served: 246,055
Hardness: 200 PPM (11.7 grains per gallon)
Des Moines's drinking water comes from surface sources — Des Moines + Raccoon Rivers. Surface water requires more extensive treatment than groundwater, including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. This heavier chlorination is why disinfection byproducts tend to be higher in surface-supplied systems. Despite the treatment process, mineral hardness from the watershed carries through. The system serves 246,000 residents.
Water quality can vary by neighborhood and season. For your exact numbers, request DMWW's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or test your own tap.
ZIP Codes Covered by This Report
This water quality data applies to all areas served by DMWW in Des Moines, IA, including ZIP codes:
50001, 50009, 50028, 50032, 50035, 50044, 50047, 50054, 50057, 50062, 50112, 50116, 50118, 50119, 50127, 50135, 50137, 50138, 50141, 50143, 50150, 50153, 50163, 50168, 50169, 50170, 50207, 50208, 50214, 50219, 50225, 50228, 50232, 50237, 50242, 50251, 50252, 50256, 50301, 50302, 50303, 50304, 50305, 50306, 50307, 50308, 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50328, 50329, 50330, 50331, 50332, 50333, 50334, 50335, 50336, 50339, 50340, 50359, 50360, 50361, 50362, 50363, 50364, 50367, 50368, 50369, 50380, 50381, 50391, 50392, 50393, 50394, 50395, 50396, 50936, 50940, 50947, 50950, 50980, 50981, 50982, 50983, 52531, 52534, 52536, 52553, 52569, 52571, 52572, 52577, 52593, 52594, 52595, 63535, 63541
If your ZIP code is listed above, this report covers your water supply. Water quality may vary slightly by neighborhood.
Water Softener Sizing for Des Moines
At 200 PPM (11.7 GPG), here is how to size a softener for your Des Moines home. Multiply hardness in GPG (11.7) by daily water usage (roughly 50 gallons per person). A family of four uses about 200 gallons/day: 11.7 GPG × 200 gal = 2340 grains/day. Over a 7-day regeneration cycle, that is 16,380 grains - a 32,000-grain softener is the right fit for most Des Moines households.
Compare Des Moines to Other Iowa Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Des Moines Water
Is Des Moines tap water safe to drink?
Where does Des Moines's water come from?
Do I need a water softener in Des Moines?
What water filter is best for Des Moines?
Does Des Moines water damage tankless water heaters?
Do I need both a softener AND a filter in Des Moines?
How much does hard water cost a Des Moines household per year?
What is the hardness of Des Moines water in grains per gallon?
Data sources: Lead and copper data from EPA Safe Drinking Water Act LCR reporting. Contaminant data from utility-reported testing results. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025). Hardness from USGS and municipal reports. Data reflects system-level testing results and may not match your specific tap due to neighborhood plumbing, season, or recent utility changes. For your utility's latest results, request their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Our methodology. Last updated: 2026-02-24.
What Des Moines Homeowners Actually Buy
Common purchases for homes with 200 PPM water.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission. Selection based on Des Moines's water data.