Apple Valley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
313.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 Apple Valley, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Apple Valley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -36% |
| Water Heater | 9.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Apple Valley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Apple Valley, Minnesota | 159 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Burnsville, Minnesota | 217 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lakeville, Minnesota | 117.5 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Eagan, Minnesota | 208 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Rosemount, Minnesota | 282.5 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Apple Valley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Apple Valley | 159 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Apple Valley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Apple Valley, Minnesota, in Dakota County south of the Twin Cities — a major Twin Cities south suburban community, home of the Minnesota Zoo, Valleyfair (nearby), and a growing diverse suburban community with significant Somali-American and Hmong-American populations — draws its municipal water supply from the Prairie du Chien–Jordan Aquifer via the City of Apple Valley Water Division, pumping from Dakota County calcareous Paleozoic aquifer wells. Water hardness in Apple Valley measures 159 mg/L — classified as hard.
Apple Valley's hard supply reflects the Dakota County calcareous Paleozoic aquifer. The Prairie du Chien Dolomite (Ordovician Oneota and New Richmond Dolomite — the principal municipal aquifer for the Twin Cities suburban corridor, highly calcareous dolomite of the Minneapolis–St. Paul Paleozoic aquifer stack) dissolves readily at the well-aquifer contact in the Dakota County zone. Apple Valley pumps the Prairie du Chien Dolomite at moderate depths — softer than some deeper Shakopee Formation pumping zones but still producing the hard 159 mg/L — consistent with the overall Dakota County suburban supply pattern.
At 159 mg/L, Apple Valley residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. City of Apple Valley Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Minnesota MDH and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Prairie du Chien–Jordan Aquifer via the City of Apple Valley Water Division — the Dakota County Twin Cities south suburban (Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite and Cambrian Jordan Sandstone of the Minneapolis–St. Paul calcareous aquifer system); hard supply at 159 mg/L in Dakota County.