Burnsville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Burnsville, Minnesota, operates a municipal water utility serving the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area in Dakota County. Water is supplied from a mixed portfolio: surface water drawn from Kraemer Quarry and 17 groundwater wells ranging from 265 to 1,030 feet deep. The wells tap four major aquifer formations — the Jordan, Mt. Simon, Prairie Du Chien-Jordan, and Tunnel City-Mt. Simon aquifers — collectively providing reliable baseload supply to the city's residents and businesses. The utility publishes annual Drinking Water Quality Reports detailing all detected contaminants and compliance status.

Burnsville's water originates from Paleozoic-age bedrock formations spanning Ordovician through Cambrian periods, dominated by sandstones and carbonate rocks. These geological units naturally contain high concentrations of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium carbonates, typical of the Minnesota River Valley and surrounding regions where ancient marine and fluvial deposits have accumulated substantial mineral content over geological time. This mineralogy is the primary driver of the city's very hard water character at 393 mg/L.

The very hard water supply presents significant practical challenges for appliances and residents. Scale accumulation occurs rapidly in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and plumbing fixtures, shortening equipment lifespan and reducing efficiency. Soap and detergent performance is diminished, requiring higher doses for effective cleaning, and dishes and glassware develop spotting and film. The city strongly recommends installing a high-efficiency water softener or saltless softening system to protect appliances and extend plumbing life. Post-treatment iron is reported at 0.05 ppm, manganese at 0.02 ppm, chlorine residual at approximately 0.75 ppm, and fluoride is added at 0.5–0.9 ppm for dental health; all contaminants meet EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels.