Mounds View Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
666.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Mounds View, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Mounds View | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -20% |
| Washing Machine | 9.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -20% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Mounds View compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mounds View, Minnesota | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| New Brighton, Minnesota | 410.88 mg/L | 51.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Fridley, Minnesota | 205 mg/L | 24.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Blaine, Minnesota | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 89.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Shoreview, Minnesota | 257 mg/L | 39.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Mounds View compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Mounds View | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Mounds View's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Mounds View Municipal Water Company supplies water to roughly 12,959 residents in Mounds View, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Their entire water supply comes from groundwater wells, with treatment happening at facilities managed from City Hall at 2401 Mounds View Boulevard. The utility doesn't use any surface water sources like reservoirs or rivers; all water is drawn from local aquifers. This groundwater originates within the Mississippi River Basin, specifically from sub-basins within the Anoka Sand Plain physiographic province.
The region's geology consists of glacial deposits from the Wisconsinan glaciation lying atop fractured bedrock. These bedrock aquifers include the Jordan Aquifer, which is Cambrian sandstone, and the dolomitic limestones of the Prairie du Chien Group situated above it. Because the water spends a long time interacting with these carbonate minerals, it picks up significant amounts of calcium and magnesium, giving it a hard quality. This is typical for karst-influenced systems in central Minnesota, where dissolving limestone formations greatly impacts the water's chemistry.
This hard water can lead to considerable scale buildup, posing a serious risk to appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Such buildup not only reduces efficiency but also shortens the lifespan of your plumbing fixtures. Hot water appliances are particularly vulnerable, as minerals tend to precipitate out when heated. To combat this, homeowners should consider annual descaling of heaters, installing filters that inhibit scale, and regularly flushing their systems. A water softener is highly recommended to prevent appliance damage, extend their life, and improve how effectively soap lathers, while also preventing unsightly spots on dishes and fixtures.
Geology & Source: Quaternary glacial deposits; Cambrian Jordan Sandstone and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Group limestones and dolomites produce moderate to hard water
Other Minnesota Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mounds View's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Mounds View?
How does Mounds View compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Mounds View is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
Water Hardness
Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
TDS — Total Dissolved Solids
Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.
PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.
Lead
Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Appliance Lifespan
Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.