The actual water analysis of a particular water supply, whether it be a private well or a municipal source, really depends on the specific aquifers and surface water sources being used and the subsequent processing of the water if any by the municipality or by the home owner. The nationwide or regional maps are very general and I would not count on them to give much information about specific water sources. For city water, the best information will come direct from the city water department (or talk to the city clerk in a small town). In the US, towns are required by law to make drinking water quality data publicly available.
For example, Kansas City, Missouri, uses both surface water sources (Missouri River) and wells for the city drinking water. In the winter, KC uses more well water. Well water tends to be "harder" (more calcium and magnesium) but microbiologically purer than water from surface water sources (rivers and lakes). The city does reduce the water hardness by lime treatment, but if one wants ~really~ soft water, a home water softener is required.
As another example, the deep Jordan aquifer in our area of northeastern Iowa is the aquifer is preferred by most well drillers when drilling a new water well. But many, many older home and city wells are drilled into shallower aquifers, and the water hardness, etc. can be much different than water coming from the Jordan.
You can also check with your state department of natural resources. In Iowa, see http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/DrinkingWaterCompliance/AnnualComplianceReport.aspx The state water quality info may be only about safety issues -- looking at safe levels of nitrate, pesticides, heavy metals -- and may not supply water hardness information. Hardness is considered to be an esthetic or practical issue; it is not really related to whether the water is safe to drink, so the state might not maintain that kind of data -- I know the states of Iowa and Missouri do not, or at least didn't when I was working on a water-quality project some years ago.
For example, Kansas City, Missouri, uses both surface water sources (Missouri River) and wells for the city drinking water. In the winter, KC uses more well water. Well water tends to be "harder" (more calcium and magnesium) but microbiologically purer than water from surface water sources (rivers and lakes). The city does reduce the water hardness by lime treatment, but if one wants ~really~ soft water, a home water softener is required.
As another example, the deep Jordan aquifer in our area of northeastern Iowa is the aquifer is preferred by most well drillers when drilling a new water well. But many, many older home and city wells are drilled into shallower aquifers, and the water hardness, etc. can be much different than water coming from the Jordan.
You can also check with your state department of natural resources. In Iowa, see http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/DrinkingWaterCompliance/AnnualComplianceReport.aspx The state water quality info may be only about safety issues -- looking at safe levels of nitrate, pesticides, heavy metals -- and may not supply water hardness information. Hardness is considered to be an esthetic or practical issue; it is not really related to whether the water is safe to drink, so the state might not maintain that kind of data -- I know the states of Iowa and Missouri do not, or at least didn't when I was working on a water-quality project some years ago.
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