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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Norfolk (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Norfolk Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

660 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Norfolk, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Norfolk	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 Norfolk compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Norfolk, Nebraska	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Columbus, Nebraska	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Yankton, South Dakota	870 mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Vermillion, South Dakota	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Fremont, Nebraska	≈ 120–179 mg/L	16.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Norfolk compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Norfolk	≈ 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 Norfolk's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 660 mg/LpH: 7.3

The City of Norfolk Water Company serves Norfolk, Nebraska (population ~24,230) and surrounding areas in Madison County. The utility sources its drinking water from groundwater wells tapping the High Plains Aquifer, with water treated and distributed from the municipal system headquartered at 309 N 5th Street, Norfolk, NE 68701. The service area encompasses the city and portions of the surrounding region in northeastern Nebraska.

Norfolk's water originates from the High Plains Aquifer, a vast groundwater system underlying the Great Plains, composed primarily of Cretaceous-age sandstones and siltstones overlain by Quaternary glacial deposits. These geological formations naturally contain elevated concentrations of calcium and magnesium carbonates, which dissolve into the groundwater and impart a hard character to the supply typical of the region.

The hard water supply in Norfolk creates scale buildup challenges in household plumbing, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, with reduced soap effectiveness and shortened appliance lifespan. A water softener is generally recommended to mitigate these effects and extend the life of water-using equipment. Available water quality data indicates the supply may contain trace levels of asbestos and tribromoacetic acid; residents should consult the City of Norfolk's most recent Consumer Confidence Report for full compliance data and pH and lead/copper results.

Geology & Source: High Plains Aquifer; Cretaceous-age sandstones and siltstones with overlying Quaternary glacial deposits — abundant calcium and magnesium carbonates in these formations produce hard groundwater

Other Nebraska Water Reports

Columbus

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Yankton

870 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Vermillion

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Fremont

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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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 Norfolk's water safe to drink?

Yes. Norfolk's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Norfolk?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Norfolk'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 20%.

How does Norfolk compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Norfolk (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Norfolk 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.