Marquette Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
275.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.38
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Marquette, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Marquette | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -42% |
| Washing Machine | 8.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -31% |
| Water Heater | 9.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -34% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Marquette compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Marquette, Michigan | 142 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Escanaba, Michigan | 248 mg/L | 13.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Howard, Wisconsin | 202 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Green Bay, Wisconsin | 242 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Allouez, Wisconsin | 174.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Marquette compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Marquette | 142 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Marquette's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Marquette, Michigan, in Marquette County — the Marquette County seat and largest city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, a historic iron ore mining city with a remarkable waterfront, the Presque Isle Park on Lake Superior, and Northern Michigan University — receives its municipal water from the Marquette Board of Light and Power (BLP) Water Division or through the City of Marquette water utility, which draws from the Dead River (impounded at the Dead River Basin reservoirs) or directly from Lake Superior through the Marquette water treatment plant.
The moderately hard 142 mg/L hardness and TDS of 275.5 mg/L are harder than typical Lake Superior water (~45–60 mg/L hardness — one of the softest large lakes in the world), indicating that Marquette's primary supply draws substantially from the Dead River Basin impoundments rather than Lake Superior directly. The Dead River watershed drains the Marquette Iron Range — the ancient Archean Marquette Supergroup of the Upper Peninsula, consisting of the Negaunee Iron Formation (banded iron formation — hematite and chert), the Wewe Slate, and the Chocolay Group (quartzite, dolomite). The dolomitic formations within the Chocolay Group contribute moderate carbonate mineral loading to the Dead River, producing the harder (142 mg/L) Dead River Basin supply compared to the ultra-soft Lake Superior baseline.
At 142 mg/L, Marquette's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, the dishwasher benefits from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling of heating appliances is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.2 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Marquette County's Sawyer International Airport (former Kinross AFB / K.I. Sawyer AFB — a former Strategic Air Command base and significant AFFF firefighting foam user), the Iron Range mining industrial legacy, and the Upper Michigan industrial corridor contribute to the Marquette area water supply's PFAS profile.
Geology & Source: Marquette in Marquette County draws from the Marquette BLP or City Water on the Dead River or Lake Superior — the watershed drains the Marquette Iron Range (Archean Marquette Supergroup iron formation and crystalline basement — Negaunee Iron Formation, Chocolay Group quartzite) — Archean iron formation and Precambrian crystalline drainage produces moderately hard water at 142 mg/L with TDS 276 mg/L in this Upper Peninsula Michigan city.