Hibbing Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.3 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
473.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.56
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 Hibbing, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hibbing | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -52% |
| Water Heater | 7.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -52% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Hibbing compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hibbing, Minnesota | 210 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Duluth, Minnesota | 199.5 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Superior, Wisconsin | 210 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Brainerd, Minnesota | 162.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Bemidji, Minnesota | 269.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Hibbing compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hibbing | 210 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Hibbing home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Hibbing's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hibbing, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County — a Saint Louis County city adjacent to Virginia and Chisholm in the Mesabi Iron Range of northeast Minnesota, one of the world's largest iron ore deposits — receives its municipal water from the Hibbing Water Division, drawing from local reservoir or lake sources in the Saint Louis County Iron Range watershed.
The very hard 210 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 473.3 mg/L are surprisingly hard for the northeast Minnesota Iron Range — reflecting the influence of calcareous Cambrian and Ordovician sedimentary formations beneath the Precambrian Shield surface geology. The Iron Range watershed drains the Canadian Shield — Precambrian Biwabik Iron Formation (iron-rich chert — non-calcareous, but overlying Cambrian sediments are calcareous), Precambrian Virginia argillite (moderately calcareous), and Cambrian Jordan Sandstone with calcareous cement (moderate carbonate dissolution source). The calcareous Cambrian subsurface formations produce the unexpectedly hard Iron Range supply.
At 210 mg/L, Hibbing's water is very hard — scale builds steadily, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 6.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Saint Louis County Iron Range mining corridor (taconite processing PFAS legacy — one of the most PFAS-contaminated mining regions in Minnesota), and the northeast Minnesota industrial PFAS complex contribute to Hibbing's readings.
Geology & Source: Hibbing in Saint Louis County draws from the Hibbing Water Division on the Partridge River (Saint Louis County, MN Iron Range) — the Iron Range drains the Canadian Shield (Precambrian Biwabik Iron Formation, Cambrian calcareous sandstone) — Minnesota Saint Louis County Iron Range Precambrian carbonate watershed produces very hard water at 210 mg/L with TDS 473.3 mg/L.