The Reason This Teeny Part of Iowa Has Soft Water Will Shock You

Here in Iowa, we’re famous for two things: corn so good it makes Illinois and Nebraska jealous, and water so hard it could double as liquid gravel. But in one small patch of the state, the water runs soft - and the reason why is out of this world, literally.

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The Only Part of Iowa With 'Soft Water'

The reason this small part of the state has softer water than the rest comes down to rocks. Or specifically, the lack of certain rocks. Underneath the Iowa surface lies a massive amount of sedimentary rock like Sandstone, Shale and Limestone. Except for one, rather suspicious area that is.

Over in the West-Central part of the state lies the tiny town of Manson. If you ever happen to pass by while driving along Highway 20 and don't notice anything out of the ordinary, you'd be forgiven. But make no mistake, Manson is unlike any other place within Iowa's borders.

That's because over 73 million years ago, when much of Iowa was covered in an Inland Sea, a 22-Mile Meteor hit what would one day be the small town of Manson. The impact incinerated nearly everything within a 250 mile radius, including the rock. In fact, the limestone rock, that virtually covers the entire state, is nowhere to be found within the Mason area.

The reason so many choose soft water for their home or business is because of its increased effectiveness in cleaning. When clothes, dishes, skin, and surfaces are cleaned using soft water, there is no presence of mineral buildup, making surfaces smoother, shinier, and cleaner. Hard water may actually be preferred for drinking water in many cases for the higher levels of essential minerals that are vital to our health. The flavor of hard water is often preferred to that of soft water as well.

-APEC Water Website

So, next time you're within the town of Mason and grab a glass of water, make sure to thank the meteor that struck the state all those millions of years ago, because, unlike the rest of Iowa, you're not going to need a water softener.

To learn more about the meteor that hit Iowa and the rock underneath our feet, check out the YouTube video below from Geology Hub.

Read More: The 22-Mile Impact Crater in the Middle of Iowa