Worthington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.4 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
540.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.61
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 Worthington, your appliances are currently losing 31% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Worthington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -76% |
| Washing Machine | 5.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -58% |
| Water Heater | 6.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -57% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Worthington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Worthington, Minnesota | 229 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Marshall, Minnesota | 125 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 373 mg/L | 3.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| New Ulm, Minnesota | 113.5 mg/L | 3.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Sioux City, Iowa | 164.5 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Worthington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Worthington | 229 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Worthington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Worthington, Minnesota, in Nobles County — the Nobles County seat adjacent to Luverne and Adrian on the Des Moines River headwaters in southwest Minnesota — receives its water from the Worthington Utilities, drawing from the Des Moines River headwaters or Lake Okabena (Nobles County) through the southwest Minnesota distribution.
The very hard 229 mg/L hardness and TDS of 540.9 mg/L reflect the southwest Minnesota Nobles County Prairie Coteau supply's very hard calcareous character — the Prairie Coteau's Ordovician dolomite and Cretaceous calcareous shale produce very hard water typical of the Minnesota-South Dakota Prairie Coteau communities, compounded by the semi-arid southwest Minnesota evaporative concentration (compare Huron SD: 299 mg/L on a harder Dakota aquifer; Marshall MN: 125 mg/L on the Redwood River). The Des Moines-Okabena watershed at Nobles County — Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Carlile Shale (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Pleistocene calcareous glacial till (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 229 mg/L with TDS 541, Worthington's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 6.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Nobles County southwest Minnesota agricultural-industrial corridor contribute to Worthington's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Worthington in Nobles County draws from the Worthington Utilities on Lake Okabena (Nobles County, southwest Minnesota) — the Lake Okabena watershed drains the Prairie Coteau (Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite — dolomitic) and Cretaceous Carlile Shale (slightly calcareous) — Minnesota Nobles County Prairie Coteau Ordovician dolomitic supply produces very hard water at 229 mg/L with TDS 540.9 mg/L.