Appleton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.6 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
578.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.53
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 Appleton, your appliances are currently losing 26% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Appleton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -65% |
| Washing Machine | 6.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -49% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Appleton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Appleton, Wisconsin | 198.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Menasha, Wisconsin | 233.5 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Neenah, Wisconsin | 160 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Kaukauna, Wisconsin | 100.5 mg/L | 3.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Oshkosh, Wisconsin | 85 mg/L | 2.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Appleton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Appleton | 198.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Appleton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Appleton, Wisconsin, the Outagamie County seat in the Fox Cities metropolitan area at the head of Lake Winnebago — historic birthplace of Harry Houdini and Joe McCarthy — draws its municipal water supply from the Fox River (the lower Fox River flowing from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay) via the City of Appleton Water Division, treating Fox River water at the Appleton Water Filtration Plant serving the Fox Valley metropolitan area. The Fox River at Appleton crosses the Niagara Escarpment limestone and dolomite belt. Water hardness in Appleton measures 198.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
Appleton's hard supply reflects the Fox River watershed's geology in the Niagara Escarpment zone of northeast Wisconsin. The Fox River–Lake Winnebago system drains: the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (the famous Niagara Escarpment dolomite of the Door Peninsula and Green Bay watershed — among the most reactive calcareous formations in Wisconsin); the Ordovician Sinnipee Group (Prairie du Chien Dolomite equivalent — highly reactive calcareous dolomite); and the glacial lake-bed deposits of Lake Winnebago (a large shallow lake in the Niagaran Dolomite basin). The Niagaran Dolomite's extreme reactivity throughout the Fox Valley watershed produces very consistent hard supply in the Fox Cities area.
At 198.5 mg/L, Appleton residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. City of Appleton Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Wisconsin DNR and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Fox River (Lake Winnebago watershed) via the City of Appleton Water Division — the Niagara Escarpment Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and the Fox River Valley dolomite karst and Ordovician Sinnipee Group dolomite of Outagamie County; hard supply at 198.5 mg/L in Outagamie County (Fox Valley).