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Story County has several distinct public water systems and individual private wells. Ames publishes a treated-water monthly hardness average, while Nevada posts a hardness figure on its department page. For your home, identify the actual supplier, measure the water arriving at the house and match the treatment to the result you want: fewer deposits, better taste, a dedicated drinking-water tap or an equipment repair.
This comparison identifies supply context and a useful next step. A dated utility result is a starting point; your own tap reading sets household capacity and regeneration. The linked Kind Water report destinations remain available alongside official sources below.
| Community | Supply context | Household treatment | Hardness for sizing | Water report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | Municipal groundwater supply | Softening for remaining hardness; carbon or RO for separate goals | 153 ppm treated monthly average, August 2026; verify at home | Ames |
| Nevada | Alluvial municipal supply described by the city | Home softening can target minerals left after city lime treatment | City webpage: 140 ppm/8.19 grains; sample date not provided | Nevada |
| Huxley | Active alluvial wells in the Iowa DNR source record | Select stages from the home’s water and desired improvement | Measure treated water at the house | Huxley |
| Story City | Active Mississippian wells in the Iowa DNR source record | Softening, suitable carbon media or kitchen RO for separate goals | Measure current water at the house | Story City |
| Gilbert | Buried sand-and-gravel wells documented by Iowa DNR | Size softening and filtration for actual home measurements | Measure at the house | Review the supplier’s current report |
| Slater | Public supply with active wells and purchased-water classification in Iowa DNR | Identify the supply and existing treatment before selecting equipment | Measure at the house | Review the supplier’s current report |
| Cambridge | Active alluvial wells documented by Iowa DNR | Choose softening for measured hardness; filtration for the specific goal | Measure at the house | Review the supplier’s current report |
| Maxwell | Buried sand-and-gravel wells documented by Iowa DNR | Check flow, hardness and existing equipment before sizing | Measure at the house | Review the supplier’s current report |
| Roland | Active Mississippian well documented by Iowa DNR | Match capacity and treatment to the home’s readings | Measure at the house | Review the supplier’s current report |
| Colo and Zearing | Confirm the current water supplier on the bill | Review the supplied water and any existing household equipment | Measure at the house | Request the current report from the supplier |
Use a treated-water figure for a treated municipal supply and a property-specific test for a private well. Your home hardness, water demand and available flow determine the equipment recommendation. Related: Iowa water reports hub
Ames published 153 ppm, or 8.94 grains, as its August 2026 treated average; Nevada’s city webpage lists 140 ppm, or 8.19 grains, without a sample date. These are separate city references. Your own reading sets the household softener.
Home softening targets the hardness remaining after city treatment. Carbon and kitchen RO add separate taste and drinking-water options, with flow, model performance and care explained in the written recommendation. Related: Ames page · reverse osmosis guide for Ames.
Story County Environmental Health offers eligible private-well residents testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic and manganese through its well program. Its official guidance recommends annual testing. Bring those results to a treatment discussion so the equipment and any follow-up test address the actual property.
The county also describes eligible well-project reimbursements of up to $1,000 for renovation, $500 for well plugging and $300 for eligible cistern plugging, subject to program requirements and funding. These support well work rather than a promise of payment for a household filter. Confirm current eligibility and funds with Story County Environmental Health at 515-382-7240.
For an acreage, use the county laboratory results and our hardness, iron, TDS and nitrate screening together. We assess pump flow, pressure, sediment and the required treatment stages; any specific contaminant concern is planned from the laboratory results. Related: free well water testing guide · nitrates in Iowa water · well water treatment
Nevada’s city department publishes a hardness figure without a sample date and describes lime treatment. For a home near Nevada, first confirm whether it is inside city service or on another supply, then measure the tap and size for the household.
Huxley’s source record lists active alluvial wells. For a Huxley move-in, replacement or addition, combine a tap reading with bathroom count, peak fixture use and the existing water loop, drain and electrical access.
Story City’s active source wells are Mississippian groundwater. Its municipal report describes the city supply; a well outside town requires its own test and flow assessment. Choose a home softener, carbon stage and RO outlet for separate household goals.
Gilbert’s Iowa DNR source record lists active buried sand-and-gravel wells. Compare incoming and treated hardness when servicing an existing softener, and share the model or an optional photo to assess repair parts and controls.
Slater’s public source record includes active wells and a purchased-water classification. Check the supplier’s current report and measure at the home rather than borrowing a Boone or Ames result for the address. Related: Boone page. A softener, appropriate carbon filter and kitchen RO can serve different goals at the property.
Cambridge’s source record identifies active alluvial wells. Use a fresh household hardness reading and flow measurement when comparing standard and XL packages; an old raw-well sample does not set the present softener.
Maxwell’s active wells are listed as buried sand-and-gravel groundwater. For recurring scale, screen hardness and examine any existing softener’s bypass, salt use and regeneration before choosing a repair or replacement.
Roland’s active source well is listed in Mississippian groundwater. For Colo or Zearing, identify the current supplier on the bill. Across these communities, the home’s water reading, demand and installation conditions determine the treatment configuration.
Kind Water Co helps Story County 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.
Annual RO care is $199 for tank systems or $249 for tankless. A diagnostic trip is $199, with repairs quoted separately; a known-issue trip is $99 plus the part. Optional valve, plumbing and error-code photos help assess an existing unit. Related: water softener repair guide. Military and first responders receive $100 off. Confirm your address, visit availability, travel and any additional work before booking. Related: Iowa water hardness by city.
Use the city guide that matches your address and actual source: Ames, Nevada, Huxley and Story City. For Gilbert, Slater, Cambridge, Maxwell, Roland, Colo, Zearing and rural addresses, identify the supplier and request a property-specific visit. Coverage, travel and additional work are confirmed before booking.
For a home across the county line, compare the appropriate regional supply context: Polk County hub · Dallas County hub.
Share your address, actual water source, household size and the problem you want solved. Optional equipment photos help with a repair or replacement. Our Des Moines team confirms coverage, travel and the written scope before booking. Call 515-709-4674, email hello@kindwaterco.com, get an instant quote or request a quote.
Boone · Marshalltown · Iowa Falls · Ankeny · Polk City · Polk County · Dallas County
Start with the supplier on your bill or your private-well information. Ames and Nevada publish different hardness figures; other municipal systems and individual wells need their own context. We measure the home’s hardness, iron, TDS and a nitrate screening reading and connect those results with demand, plumbing and the result you want.
For a Story County installation, we check people in the home, bathrooms, simultaneous water use, measured hardness and available flow. Then we review pipe size, existing equipment, a suitable drain, electrical access, bypass position and space for tanks and salt access. Under-sink RO also needs cabinet room, a faucet position and a drain connection; tankless equipment needs power. This makes the written recommendation useful before installation day.
Story County’s official program offers eligible residents testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic and manganese. Confirm current participation with Environmental Health. Kind Water screening adds hardness, iron, TDS and a nitrate screening reading, and the treatment recommendation uses the appropriate laboratory results for specific concerns.
If an existing softener in Story County 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. Whole-home coverage includes lifetime parts, five-year media and one-year labor under written terms; selected RO coverage is confirmed separately.
The softener plus carbon package is $2,500, or $2,850 with tank RO; XL with tank RO is $3,150. Standalone RO is $897 tank or $997 tankless, and the dual-tank well package is $3,650. Published equipment prices cover standard installation and taxes; travel, extra work and selected-equipment warranty are confirmed in writing.
Local sources reviewed October 3, 2026. Utility results describe the public system; a home reading sets household equipment. Raw, treated and future figures are kept separate.
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