Grand Rapids Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.1 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
137.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.23
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 Grand Rapids, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Grand Rapids | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -21% |
| Washing Machine | 10.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -13% |
| Water Heater | 12.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -19% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Grand Rapids compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Grand Rapids, Minnesota | 87.5 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Hibbing, Minnesota | 210 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Brainerd, Minnesota | 162.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Cloquet, Minnesota | 157 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Bemidji, Minnesota | 269.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Grand Rapids compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Grand Rapids | 87.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Grand Rapids's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in Itasca County — the Itasca County seat adjacent to Cohasset and Coleraine near the Mississippi River headwaters in north-central Minnesota — receives its water from the City of Grand Rapids Water Department, drawing from the Mississippi River headwaters through the north-central Minnesota distribution.
The soft 87.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 137.5 mg/L reflect the Itasca County Upper Mississippi supply's soft character — the Precambrian Canadian Shield granite is highly insoluble, and Quaternary Minnesota glacial till contributes modest calcareous mineral content from its glacially-deposited calcareous till plains (compare Cohasset MN: 85/132 in Itasca County comparable; Coleraine MN: 89/142 in Itasca County comparable; Grand Rapids consistent soft from the same Itasca County Upper Mississippi Precambrian granitic supply). The Upper Mississippi watershed — Precambrian Canadian Shield granite (insoluble — primary dilutant), Quaternary Minnesota glacial till (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Upper Mississippi alluvium (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 87.5 mg/L with TDS 138, Grand Rapids' water is soft — minimal scale buildup. Annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 3.2 ppt is low — a clean result for north-central Minnesota. Review the City of Grand Rapids' annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Grand Rapids in Itasca County draws from the Grand Rapids Water on the Mississippi River headwaters (Itasca County, north-central Minnesota) — the Upper Mississippi at Itasca County drains Precambrian Canadian Shield granite (insoluble) and Quaternary Minnesota glacial till (slightly calcareous) — Minnesota Itasca County Upper Mississippi Precambrian granitic supply produces soft water at 87.5 mg/L with TDS 137.5 mg/L.