Fairmont Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.9 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
165.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.27
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 Fairmont, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fairmont | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -26% |
| Washing Machine | 9.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -23% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fairmont compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairmont, Minnesota | 100.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| New Ulm, Minnesota | 113.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| North Mankato, Minnesota | 144 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Mankato, Minnesota | 99.5 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Saint Peter, Minnesota | 212.5 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Fairmont compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fairmont | 100.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fairmont's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fairmont, Minnesota, in Martin County — the Martin County seat adjacent to Truman and Blue Earth in the chain-of-lakes district of southwest Minnesota — receives its water from the City of Fairmont Water Department, drawing from the Budd Lake and Amber Lake system through the southwest Minnesota distribution.
The moderately hard 100.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 165.3 mg/L reflect the Martin County supply's moderate glacial lake district character — the Quaternary Des Moines Lobe glacial till and Cretaceous Pierre Shale are calcareous-slightly calcareous formations in the southwest Minnesota prairie; Fairmont's chain-of-lakes supply acquires moderate dissolved mineral content from its glacially derived calcareous drainage (compare Truman MN: 97/158 in Martin County comparable; Blue Earth MN: 103/172 in Faribault County comparable; Fairmont consistent moderate from the same Martin County Budd Lake Quaternary calcareous supply). The Budd/Amber Lake system — Quaternary Des Moines Lobe glacial till (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Pierre Shale (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Holocene Minnesota prairie lake sediment (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 100.5 mg/L with TDS 165, Fairmont's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.5 ppt is moderate — a certified drinking water filter provides added protection. Review the City of Fairmont's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Fairmont in Martin County draws from the Fairmont Water on the Budd Lake/Amber Lake supply (Martin County, southwest Minnesota) — the southwest Minnesota glacial lake district at Martin County draws from Quaternary Des Moines Lobe glacial till (calcareous) and Cretaceous Pierre Shale (slightly calcareous) — Minnesota Martin County Budd Lake Quaternary calcareous supply produces moderately hard water at 100.5 mg/L with TDS 165.3 mg/L.