Dickinson Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
24 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1368.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Dickinson, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Dickinson | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Dickinson compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dickinson, North Dakota | 411 mg/L | 3.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Williston, North Dakota | 286.5 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Mandan, North Dakota | 286.5 mg/L | 2.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Bismarck, North Dakota | 316 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Minot, North Dakota | 307 mg/L | 2.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Dickinson compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Dickinson | 411 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Dickinson's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Dickinson, North Dakota, in Stark County in the western North Dakota Badlands and Bakken oil country on the Heart River — a regional center for the western ND oil patch and home to Dickinson State University — receives its municipal water from the City of Dickinson Water Division, drawing from the Heart River and local groundwater wells in Stark County. The Heart River drains the southwestern North Dakota Badlands before joining the Missouri River, collecting water from some of the most mineral-rich terrestrial formations in North America.
The extreme 411 mg/L hardness and extraordinary TDS of 1,368.6 mg/L reflect the western North Dakota Badlands' exceptional mineral geology. The Heart River watershed drains the Missouri Plateau over the Paleocene Fort Union Formation — composed of coal beds, bentonite clay (volcanic ash), and evaporite mineral deposits (sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate) — and the underlying Cretaceous Pierre Shale and Niobrara Chalk, both highly calcareous marine formations. These layers release extraordinary amounts of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and sulfate minerals into groundwater and surface water. The dry continental climate and limited precipitation concentrate these minerals further in the watershed.
At 411 mg/L and TDS approaching 1,370 mg/L, Dickinson residents face among the most extreme hard water conditions in the United States. Scale forms immediately on all water contact surfaces, appliances accumulate deposits within days of installation without treatment, and the pronounced mineral taste in unfiltered tap water makes it generally unpleasant for drinking. A whole-house water softener is a universal household necessity in Dickinson, and reverse osmosis drinking water systems are equally standard across the Stark County community. The favorable PFAS level of 3.5 ppt reflects Dickinson's remote western North Dakota location, well away from major industrial PFAS sources.
Geology & Source: Dickinson in Stark County draws from the Heart River and local groundwater — the Badlands/Missouri Plateau aquifer contacts Paleocene Fort Union Formation (coal, bentonite, evaporites) and Cretaceous Pierre Shale calcareous matrix — intense evaporite and carbonate dissolution from North Dakota oil country formations produces extreme hardness at 411 mg/L and TDS 1,369 mg/L.