Cudahy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
793.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.66
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 Cudahy, your appliances are currently losing 33% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cudahy | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -63% |
| Water Heater | 5.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -62% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cudahy compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cudahy, Wisconsin | 247.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| South Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 103 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Oak Creek, Wisconsin | 237.5 mg/L | 6.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 147 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Shorewood, Wisconsin | 246.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Cudahy compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cudahy | 247.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Cudahy's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cudahy, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County — a Milwaukee County city adjacent to St. Francis and South Milwaukee, in the south Milwaukee suburban corridor on Lake Michigan — receives its municipal water from the City of Cudahy Water Division, drawing from deep wells accessing the Silurian Niagara Dolomite aquifer beneath Milwaukee County.
The very hard 247.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 793.3 mg/L reflect the deep Silurian dolomite aquifer character of southeast Wisconsin — similar to Onalaska WI (274.5 mg/L, TDS 924) and the characteristic extremely hard groundwater of Wisconsin Silurian dolomite aquifer communities. The Silurian Niagara Dolomite beneath Milwaukee County is a thick (300-500 ft) dolomite platform carbonate aquifer that has had extremely long groundwater residence time, producing the very high calcium-magnesium carbonate loading observed.
At 247.5 mg/L with TDS 793, Cudahy's water is very hard. A water softener is essential. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, and appliances have significantly shortened lifespans. Water heaters are especially vulnerable without softening. The PFAS level of 6.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Milwaukee south suburban industrial complex (Cudahy meats-packing legacy, Patrick Cudahy plant), the Milwaukee industrial PFAS legacy, and the Lake Michigan southeastern Wisconsin PFAS background contribute to Cudahy's readings.
Geology & Source: Cudahy in Milwaukee County draws from the Cudahy Water Division on deep Milwaukee County wells (Silurian Niagara Dolomite aquifer, southeast Wisconsin) — the Silurian Niagara Dolomite produces very hard groundwater at 247.5 mg/L with high TDS 793 mg/L in this Milwaukee County Wisconsin city.