{
  "city": "Kansas City",
  "state": "MO/KS",
  "slug": "kansas-city",
  "hardness_facts": [
    {
      "utility": "BPU (Kansas City, KS)",
      "measure": "Total hardness",
      "value_as_published": "280 ppm (16.4 grains per gallon)",
      "period": "Jan.-Dec. 2025",
      "source_title": "BPU 2026 Water Quality Report",
      "source_url": "https://bpu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-Water-Quality-Report-FINAL-newformat.pdf"
    },
    {
      "utility": "WaterOne (Johnson County, KS)",
      "measure": "Total hardness",
      "value_as_published": "Average 135 ppm, range 110-157 ppm",
      "period": "Calendar year 2025",
      "source_title": "WaterOne Water Quality Report 2026",
      "source_url": "https://www.waterone.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/177"
    },
    {
      "utility": "Independence, MO",
      "measure": "Total hardness",
      "value_as_published": "123 mg/L as calcium carbonate (single sample)",
      "period": "Sampled May 6, 2024",
      "source_title": "Independence 2025 Annual Water Quality Report",
      "source_url": "https://www.independencemo.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/2025%20CCR_Draft%20Final.pdf"
    },
    {
      "utility": "KC Water (Kansas City, MO)",
      "measure": "Average hardness",
      "value_as_published": "100 mg/L (5-6 grains per gallon)",
      "period": "Undated web page",
      "source_title": "KC Water water quality topics",
      "source_url": "https://www.kcwater.us/water-quality/water-quality-topics/"
    }
  ],
  "published_span_mg_per_l": [
    100,
    280
  ],
  "span_converted_from_grains": false,
  "usgs_class": "moderately hard to very hard",
  "usgs_class_source": "https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/hardness-water",
  "notes": [
    "KC Water's figures do not agree across its own documents: an undated web page gives an average of 100 mg/L, its 2022 report gives a range of 84.6-136 ppm for 2021, and its latest report does not list hardness for its own supply."
  ],
  "local_details": {
    "disinfectant": {
      "text": "It depends on the utility. WaterOne, BPU and Independence use chloramine, and the newest KC Water statement we found, in its 2022 report, says chlorine is added for disinfection.",
      "kind": "varies",
      "source_title": "KC Water 2022 Water Quality Report",
      "source_url": "https://www.kcwater.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Water-Quality-Report_web.pdf",
      "evidence_ids": [
        "KANSAS-L-01"
      ]
    },
    "source_water": {
      "text": "KC Water draws mainly from the Missouri River plus nearby wells. BPU and Independence also draw on the Missouri River and its alluvial aquifer, and WaterOne uses the Kansas and Missouri rivers and wells.",
      "source_title": "KC Water 2022 Water Quality Report",
      "source_url": "https://www.kcwater.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Water-Quality-Report_web.pdf",
      "evidence_ids": [
        "KANSAS-L-02"
      ]
    },
    "softening": {
      "text": "At least in part. KC Water adds lime at its plant for softening and to improve taste and odor.",
      "source_title": "KC Water 2022 Water Quality Report",
      "source_url": "https://www.kcwater.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Water-Quality-Report_web.pdf",
      "evidence_ids": [
        "KANSAS-L-03"
      ]
    },
    "service": {
      "text": "Four utilities serve the area. KC Water serves Kansas City, Missouri, BPU serves Kansas City, Kansas, Independence serves Independence, Missouri, and WaterOne serves 17 Johnson County cities, including Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Leawood and Prairie Village, and parts of Olathe and De Soto.",
      "source_title": "WaterOne service area page",
      "source_url": "https://waterone.org/344/WaterOne-Service-Area",
      "evidence_ids": [
        "KANSAS-L-04"
      ]
    }
  },
  "sources_checked_on": "2026-10-26",
  "site": "https://kcwatersystems.com/",
  "brand": "KC Water Systems by My Home Water System",
  "taking_requests": true
}