How does Winona's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Winona (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Winona Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

453 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 Winona, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Winona	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Winona compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Winona, Minnesota	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Onalaska, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	7.5 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
North La Crosse, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
La Crosse, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	226 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Eau Claire, Wisconsin	≈ 0–60 mg/L	23.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Winona compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Winona	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Winona's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 453 mg/LpH: 7.5

The City of Winona Public Utilities provides drinking water to approximately 26,000 residents in Winona County, Minnesota, along the Mississippi River. The utility operates eight groundwater wells ranging from 489 to 1,077 feet deep, drawing exclusively from the Mt. Simon and Eau Claire-Mt. Simon aquifers. There are no surface water treatment plants; instead, water is treated at wellhead facilities using aeration, filtration, and disinfection before distribution through the local network. The service area covers the city of Winona and adjacent areas in Winona County.

Winona's groundwater originates from Cambrian sandstone aquifers beneath the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The Mt. Simon aquifer consists of Cambrian-period sandstones and conglomerates, overlain by Eau Claire Formation shales and sandstones, within a sequence of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks including limestones and dolomites. This geology imparts a very hard character to the water due to natural dissolution of minerals from carbonate-rich formations during groundwater flow — enhanced by the confined nature of the aquifer and regional karst features typical of southeastern Minnesota's bedrock-dominated hydrogeology.

Very hard water in Winona leads to significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Kettle limescale and soap scum are common, requiring more detergent for cleaning. Maintenance involves regular descaling of fixtures, installing sediment filters, and flushing water heaters annually. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent appliance damage, improve soap efficiency, and extend plumbing life. The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report confirms compliance with federal standards; orthopolyphosphate is added for corrosion control, and uranium from natural geological sources was detected but remains below action levels. Treatment includes chlorination for disinfection, aeration for iron and manganese removal, and greensand filtration.

Geology & Source: Cambrian Mt. Simon and Eau Claire-Mt. Simon sandstone aquifers, southeastern Minnesota Paleozoic bedrock; overlying Ordovician limestone and dolomite dissolve into deep confined groundwater — wells 489–1077 ft; karst influence yields very hard water

Other Minnesota Water Reports

Onalaska

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

North La Crosse

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

La Crosse

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Eau Claire

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Winona's water safe to drink?

Yes. Winona's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Winona?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Winona's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Winona compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Winona (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Winona is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

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.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

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.

Measured

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.

Modelled

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.

Calculated

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.