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

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

Williston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

1680 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 Williston, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Williston	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 Williston compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	Risk	Source
▶ Williston, North Dakota	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Dickinson, North Dakota	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Minot, North Dakota	150 mg/L	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Mandan, North Dakota	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Bismarck, North Dakota	132 mg/L	🟠 Hard	mixed

National Benchmark

How Williston compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 1680 mg/LpH: 8.3

The City of Williston water utility serves over 35,000 residents in Williams County, North Dakota, including the city of Williston and surrounding areas. Water is sourced from the Missouri River and regional groundwater aquifers, providing a mixed surface and groundwater supply. Treatment occurs at the Williston water treatment plant, operated by the Western Area Water Supply Authority, which processes raw water using coagulation, filtration, disinfection, and stabilization to meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards before distribution throughout the service area.

The supply originates in the Missouri River watershed, spanning the Northern Great Plains with headwaters influenced by Rocky Mountain drainage. Key geological features include Mississippian Madison Group limestones and Cretaceous Fox Hills sands, alongside Paleocene Fort Union Formation lignites. These carbonate and clastic sedimentary rocks impart a hard character through natural mineral dissolution, while alluvial deposits along the river contribute suspended sediments managed during treatment. Groundwater from local aquifers mirrors this mineral profile due to similar stratigraphic influences.

Hard water promotes scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, pipes, kettles, and faucets, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap lathers poorly, leaving films on skin, hair, and laundry. Regular vinegar descaling, sediment filters, and scale-resistant appliance choices help mitigate deposits. A whole-house water softener is recommended to extend equipment life. Treated water maintains pH 8.5–9.0 for corrosion control; no lead is detected post-treatment, and fluoride is voluntarily added at 0.6–0.8 mg/L. While compliant with EPA legal limits, seven contaminants including hexavalent chromium and radium exceed health advocacy guidelines.

Geology & Source: Missouri River watershed, Northern Great Plains; Mississippian Madison Limestone and Cretaceous Fox Hills Aquifer; Paleocene Fort Union Formation; carbonate and evaporite dissolution yields hard water

Other North Dakota Water Reports

Dickinson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Minot

150 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Mandan

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Bismarck

132 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 Williston's water safe to drink?

Yes. Williston'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 Williston?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Williston'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 Williston compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Williston (≈ 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 Williston 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.