Is Minnesota tap water hard or soft?
Yes, mostly. 70 % of the 23 cities with published data in Minnesota have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 17 gpg, from 5 gpg in Golden Valley to 36 gpg in Brooklyn Park.
We have published hardness data for 23 cities in Minnesota. The median is 17 gpg; the hardest water is in Brooklyn Park (36 gpg), the softest in Golden Valley (5 gpg).
70 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in Minnesota, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Park | 36 | 616 | very hard |
| Chaska | 26 | 445 | very hard |
| Burnsville | 25.5 | 437 | very hard |
| Inver Grove Heights | 21.6 | 370 | very hard |
| Hopkins | 21 | 360 | very hard |
| Shakopee | 21 | 360 | very hard |
| Eagan | 19.1 | 328 | very hard |
| Lakeville | 18 | 308 | very hard |
| South St. Paul | 17.9 | 307 | very hard |
| Lake Elmo | 17 | 291 | very hard |
| Mounds View | 17 | 291 | very hard |
| Worthington | 17 | 291 | very hard |
| Hastings | 16 | 274 | very hard |
| Otsego | 15 | 257 | very hard |
| Fridley | 14.5 | 248 | very hard |
| Arden Hills | 7.5 | 128 | hard |
| Hutchinson | 6.2 | 106 | moderately hard |
| Forest Lake | 6 | 103 | moderately hard |
| Minneapolis | 5.4 | 93 | moderately hard |
| Mendota Heights | 5.3 | 90 | moderately hard |
| St. Paul | 5.3 | 90 | moderately hard |
| Bloomington | 5.2 | 89 | moderately hard |
| Golden Valley | 5 | 86 | moderately hard |
FAQ
Is Minnesota water hard or soft?
Yes, mostly. 70 % of the 23 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 17 gpg.
Which city in Minnesota has the hardest water?
Brooklyn Park, at 36 gpg, has the hardest water of the 23 cities with published data.
Which city in Minnesota has the softest water?
Golden Valley, at 5 gpg, has the softest water of the 23 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Minnesota?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in Minnesota the values range from 5 gpg to 36 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in Minnesota by county →