Burlington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
765.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.64
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 Burlington, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Burlington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -81% |
| Washing Machine | 4.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -61% |
| Water Heater | 5.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -61% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Burlington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burlington, Wisconsin | 241.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Salem, Wisconsin | 162 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Muskego, Wisconsin | 146.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Antioch, Illinois | 249.5 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Fox Lake, Illinois | 194.5 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Burlington compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Burlington | 241.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Burlington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Burlington, Wisconsin, in Racine County — a Racine County city adjacent to Waterford and Twin Lakes on the Fox River in southeast Wisconsin — receives its water from the City of Burlington Water Department, drawing from the Fox River and the Silurian Dolomite Aquifer through the southeast Wisconsin distribution.
The very hard 241.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 765.5 mg/L reflect the Racine County supply's very hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite are highly dolomitic formations in the Wisconsin Dolomite Plateau, and Burlington's well fields penetrate these formations to produce very hard, highly mineralized water (compare Waterford WI: 237/753 in Racine County comparable; Twin Lakes WI: 245/778 in Kenosha County comparable; Burlington consistent very hard from the same Racine County Fox River Silurian dolomitic supply). The Racine County dolomite supply — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (highly dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Fox River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 241.5 mg/L with TDS 766, Burlington's water is very hard — a water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing and appliances. The PFAS level of 6.3 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Burlington's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Burlington in Racine County draws from the Burlington Water on the Fox River and dolomite aquifer (Racine County, southeast Wisconsin) — the Racine County supply draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (highly dolomitic) — Wisconsin Racine County Fox River Silurian dolomitic supply produces very hard water at 241.5 mg/L with TDS 765.5 mg/L.