Water Hardness in Wisconsin Cities

Water Hardness in Wisconsin Cities

Water hardness in Wisconsin, characterized by the amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can considerably vary throughout the state due to its diverse geological landscapes. Positioned in the Midwestern region of the U.S., Wisconsin’s water hardness levels reflect its range of geological features.

Across Wisconsin, water hardness can span from moderately soft to notably hard, contingent on the geology of the area and the source of the water supply. For example, areas situated over the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer may have softer water, attributed to the rapid movement of water through less mineral-rich sediments. Conversely, regions with harder water usually lie underneath limestone and other mineral-laden formations like those found in the Niagara Escarpment, leading to greater concentrations of dissolved minerals.

The variation in water hardness throughout Wisconsin influences not only the taste and aesthetics of the water but also the efficiency of soaps and detergents, plumbing maintenance, and the durability of appliances that use water. Given the state’s significant geological diversity, water hardness is not uniform, emphasizing the need for localized water treatment solutions and continuous monitoring of water quality.

Upon reviewing the data, it’s evident that water hardness levels vary greatly in different cities across Wisconsin, USA. Specific data isn’t available for most locations. Among the cities for which data is reported, the highest water hardness level is seen in Germantown, Hartland, and Grafton with a hardness ppm of 393.7 and a hardness gpg of 23.0. In contrast, the city with the lowest recorded water hardness level is Fox Crossing, reporting a hardness ppm of 35.0 and a hardness gpg of 2.0.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Milwaukee 130.0 7.6 Link Doesn’t report hardness, but sells to West Allis which reports hardness
Madison n/a n/a Link
Green Bay n/a n/a Link
Kenosha 137.0 8.0 Link
Racine 140 8.2 Link Lake Michigan
Appleton n/a n/a Link
Waukesha n/a n/a Link
Eau Claire n/a n/a Link
Oshkosh n/a n/a Link
Janesville n/a n/a Link
West Allis 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
La Crosse n/a n/a Link
Sheboygan 146.0 8.5 Link
Wauwatosa 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Fond du Lac n/a n/a Link
Brookfield n/a n/a Link
New Berlin 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Wausau n/a n/a Link
Menomonee Falls 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Greenfield 130.0 7.6 Link Covered by Milwaukee
Franklin n/a n/a Link
Beloit 340.0 19.9 Link
Oak Creek n/a n/a Link Lake Michigan
Sun Prairie n/a n/a Link
Manitowoc n/a n/a Link
West Bend n/a n/a Link
Fitchburg n/a n/a Link
Mount Pleasant 140 8.2 Link Gets from Racine
Neenah n/a n/a Link
Superior n/a n/a Link Lake Superior
Stevens Point n/a n/a Link
De Pere n/a n/a Link
Muskego n/a n/a Link
Caledonia 140 8.2 Link Purchases from Racine
Mequon 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Watertown n/a n/a Link
Middleton n/a n/a Link
Pleasant Prairie 137.0 8.0 Link Purchases from Kenosha
Germantown 393.7 23.0 Link
South Milwaukee n/a n/a Link LAke Michigan, but separate facility from Milwaukee. Doesn’t report hardness but likely in the 130s range based on Milwaukee and Kenosha reports
Howard n/a n/a Link Purchases some from Lake Michigan, but doesn’t indicate how much
Fox Crossing 35.0 2.0 Link
Onalaska 376.6 22.0 Link
Marshfield n/a n/a Link
Wisconsin Rapids n/a n/a Link
Oconomowoc 317.0 18.5 Link
Menasha n/a n/a Link
Cudahy n/a n/a Link Lake Michigan
Kaukauna n/a n/a Link
Ashwaubenon n/a n/a Link Purchases from Green Bay
Menomonie n/a n/a Link
Beaver Dam n/a n/a Link
River Falls n/a n/a Link
Bellevue n/a n/a Link Purchases from Manitowoc
Pewaukee n/a n/a Link
Hartford n/a n/a Link
Weston n/a n/a Link
Hudson 210.0 12.5 Link
Waunakee n/a n/a Link
Chippewa Falls n/a n/a Link
Whitefish Bay n/a n/a Link
Greendale 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Salem Lakes n/a n/a Link No online CCR, may purchase from Kenosha but isn’t clear
Whitewater n/a n/a Link
Verona n/a n/a Link
Allouez n/a n/a Link Purchases from Manitowoc
Plover n/a n/a Link
Shorewood n/a n/a Link
Harrison n/a n/a Link Purchases from Appleton
Glendale n/a n/a Link
Stoughton 308.1 18.0 Link
Suamico n/a n/a Link
Brown Deer 130.0 7.6 Link Purchases from Milwaukee
Port Washington n/a n/a Link Lake Michigan
Fort Atkinson n/a n/a Link
Cedarburg n/a n/a Link
Baraboo 248.0 14.5 Link Took system average
Grafton 376.6 22.0 Link
Little Chute n/a n/a Link
Richfield n/a n/a Link Looks like Richfield uses mostly private wells, per CCR lookup on EPA website
Platteville n/a n/a Link
Sussex n/a n/a Link
Waupun 85.6 5.0 Link Treated down to 5 gpg by city
Oregon 331.0 18.3 Link
Two Rivers n/a n/a Link
Marinette n/a n/a Link Lake Michigan
Burlington n/a n/a Link
Holmen n/a n/a Link
DeForest n/a n/a Link
Monroe n/a n/a Link
Hobart n/a n/a Link Purchases from Green Bay
New Richmond n/a n/a Link
Elkhorn n/a n/a Link
Portage n/a n/a Link
Reedsburg 160.0 9.3 Link
Sparta n/a n/a Link
Sturgeon Bay n/a n/a Link
Hartland 393.7 23.0 Link
Tomah n/a n/a Link
St. Francis n/a n/a Link No online CCR, but probably covered by Milwaukee, based on Google Maps.
Top 100 Wisconsin cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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