Well Water Treatment, Softeners, Filtration & Reverse Osmosis in Runnells, Iowa

Runnells is a small town in southeast Polk County, founded in 1881, according to the city. About 467 people live here, by the Census Bureau’s 2024 estimate. Since 2006, Des Moines Water Works has provided all of the city’s water service. Here is the short story of where it comes from, how hard it is and what that means at your sink.

From A Deep Town Well To Des Moines Water

Runnells used to pump its own water. Iowa DNR’s source-water tracker lists the town’s Well #3 as a 2,402-foot well into the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer, now on standby. EPA records show that well and the town’s treatment plant going inactive in March 2006. The Runnells water system record itself closed that August.

Des Moines Water Works says it began full water service for the City of Runnells on April 1, 2006. It also bills garbage and recycling for the city. The water reaches town through SE Polk Rural Water, a district that buys treated water from Des Moines Water Works. EPA lists that district at 7,565 people on 3,026 connections.

How Hard Is Runnells Water?

Des Moines Water Works softens river water at all three of its plants. Its FAQ gives a goal of total hardness under 150 mg/L, or 8.76 grains per gallon. The 2026 report does not say which plant feeds SE Polk Rural Water, so here are all three. Across 2025, daily treated-water readings averaged 151.6 mg/L (8.9 gpg) at Fleur Drive, 149.2 mg/L (8.7 gpg) at L.D. McMullen and 145.4 mg/L (8.5 gpg) at Saylorville.

The U.S. Geological Survey counts 121 to 180 mg/L as hard. In 2025, at least 353 daily readings at each plant, out of about 365, landed in that band. So even after plant softening, Runnells water is usually hard. A home softener handles what is left. We confirm your number with a test at your tap before we size anything.

Runnells Water By The Numbers

• 1881: the year Runnells was founded, according to the city.
• 467 people: Census Vintage 2024 estimate for Runnells.
• April 1, 2006: Des Moines Water Works begins full water service for the city.
• 2,402 feet: depth of the town’s old Well #3, now listed on standby.
• 7,565 people: served by SE Polk Rural Water, according to EPA.
• 145.4 to 151.6 mg/L: 2025 average hardness at the three Des Moines Water Works plants (8.5 to 8.9 gpg).
• 17 tests: Iowa DNR’s count of private-well nitrate results from 11 wells in township T78N R22W around Runnells, May 2003 to June 2026. Two reached 10 mg/L or more.

What This Means For Your Runnells Home

In town, Runnells homes get softened, disinfected Des Moines water carried out by rural water lines. Three common goals are less scale, less chlorine smell in the shower and a great glass of water. Those map to a softener, a whole-home carbon tank and an under-sink reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink.

Farm and acreage homes around Runnells can be different. Some are on SE Polk rural water and some are on a private well, and the mailing address alone does not tell you which. Start with your water bill or well record. Then we test your water at your tap for free and build the plan from your house, not your neighbor’s.

Runnells equipment and installed scope

Kind Water Co helps Runnells homeowners compare water softeners, whole-home carbon filtration, kitchen reverse osmosis and repairs. Published equipment prices include standard installation and taxes. We confirm the plumbing scope, any travel or site-specific charges and the written equipment warranty before booking; installation is handled by vetted licensed and insured local plumbing professionals.

• Softener with whole-home carbon filtration: $2,500, or $2,850 with reverse osmosis. Reduce hardness and review the agreed carbon and kitchen RO stages. Capacity is selected for measured hardness, daily use and simultaneous fixture demand. Related: How our softeners work.
• XL softener plus carbon with reverse osmosis: $3,150, and dual-tank city system with reverse osmosis: $3,550. Reduce hardness and review the agreed carbon and kitchen RO stages. Capacity is selected for measured hardness, daily use and simultaneous fixture demand.
• Salt-free conditioning: $3,050. Scale management for suitable city water; conditioning does not remove calcium or magnesium or produce soft water.
• Softener only: $1,900. Whole-home carbon only: $1,150, or $1,450 catalytic.
• Reverse osmosis alone: $897 tank or $997 tankless. A dedicated drinking and cooking water option, with pressure, output, cabinet space, filter care and selected-model performance reviewed. Related: Reverse osmosis details.
• Softener repair. A diagnostic trip is $199, with repairs quoted separately. A known-issue trip is $99 plus the part. Tank RO annual care is $199 and tankless RO care is $249. Travel and additional work are confirmed for your address.

Military and first responders receive $100 off. Request your written installed quote or book a free hardness, iron and TDS screening; the recommendation explains the equipment, plumbing scope, care and warranty.

Private farm wells around Runnells

A private well near Runnells needs a plan for that property. Bring your latest well lab results; we add hardness, iron and TDS screening and assess pump flow, pressure and sediment. Treatment may combine softening, iron or sulfur treatment, sediment filtration and a suitable drinking-water RO system. A neighboring city’s report cannot describe an individual well. Polk County Environmental Health offers free private-well testing for well users in Polk County. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the county. Related: guide to free well water testing in Iowa.

Published options: $3,650 dual-tank well package; $3,950 dual-tank well package with tank RO; $500 sediment filtration; $700 Class B supplemental UV for already-safe water. Standard equipment installation and taxes are included. Confirm any additional plumbing, travel and the selected system’s written warranty before booking. Related: well water treatment.

Runnells softener repair and maintenance

If an existing softener in Runnells stops using salt, leaks, runs constantly or leaves hard water, start with diagnosis. Share the brand, model, error code and an optional photo of the valve or plumbing. We assess bypass position, brine draw, controls and the condition of serviceable components, then explain repair versus replacement, parts availability and the cost before proceeding. Ownership includes salt for a salt-based softener, carbon-media replacement and the selected RO filter and membrane schedule. After a Runnells installation, keep the settings and model information, monitor salt and leaks, and arrange a service check if water use or the supplier changes. Whole-home coverage includes lifetime parts, five-year media and one-year labor under the written terms; RO warranty is confirmed for the selected model.

Request your Runnells screening or quote

Share the Runnells address, water supplier or private-well information, household size and the problem you want solved. An optional photo of the current valve, plumbing and under-sink space helps plan a retrofit or repair. Call the Des Moines team at 515-709-4674 or request the Central Iowa installed quote. Coverage, visit availability, travel and additional work are confirmed before booking. Related: Request a quote · get an instant quote.

Also serving nearby

Pleasant Hill · Des Moines · Altoona · Indianola · All of Polk County

Book water treatment installation and service in Runnells

For water softener installation or repair, whole-home water filtration, or an under-sink reverse osmosis system in Runnells, contact our Des Moines team at 515-709-4674. We test hardness, iron, TDS and nitrate before recommending equipment. Get your Central Iowa installed quote, compare published water system prices, or read our Des Moines metro softener repair guide.