Crystal Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Crystal, Minnesota, in Hennepin County in the northwest Minneapolis inner suburbs along Bass Lake Road — a densely residential Hennepin County city adjacent to New Hope, Brooklyn Park, and Robbinsdale — receives its municipal water from the Crystal City Water Division, which purchases treated water from the Minneapolis Water Works. Minneapolis Water Works draws from the Mississippi River at its Fridley intake north of the city, treating river water at the Columbia Heights filtration plant for distribution throughout the Minneapolis metro area.

The moderately soft 103.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 172 mg/L reflect the Minneapolis Water Works treated Mississippi River supply character. The Upper Mississippi River at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul corridor receives input from the Minnesota River (draining the Coteau des Prairies glacial till plain over Cretaceous shales and Precambrian basement), the Rum River and other central Minnesota tributaries draining Pleistocene glacial drift (including carbonate-rich calcareous till), and northern Minnesota headwaters from the Laurentian Divide crystalline terrain. Minneapolis Water Works' advanced treatment reduces organic matter, turbidity, and pathogens while leaving the naturally moderate mineral content largely unchanged.

At 103.5 mg/L, Crystal's water is moderately soft — comfortable for everyday household use in this Minneapolis suburb. Scale forms gradually in kettles and appliances over months, soap lathers well, and the dishwasher produces clean results without special treatment. Quarterly descaling of heating appliances is adequate. The PFAS level of 3.5 ppt is one of the lower readings in the Minneapolis metro — the Mississippi River headwaters' relatively pristine upper watershed character in the Crystal service zone reflects the Minneapolis Water Works' effective source water protection and treatment.