De Pere Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.9 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
917 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.73
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 De Pere, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In De Pere | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -71% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How De Pere compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ De Pere, Wisconsin | 273 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin | 213 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Allouez, Wisconsin | 174.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Green Bay, Wisconsin | 242 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Howard, Wisconsin | 202 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How De Pere compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ De Pere | 273 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes De Pere's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
De Pere, Wisconsin, in Brown County on the Fox River just south of Green Bay, receives its municipal water from the City of De Pere Water Utility, drawing from groundwater wells tapping deep aquifer formations underlying the Green Bay lowland. The Fox River Valley in Brown County sits within the Niagara Escarpment region — the same geological structure that forms Niagara Falls, Door County's peninsula, and the rocky spine of northeastern Wisconsin. Deep wells in this area access the Silurian Niagara Dolomite and underlying Devonian carbonate formations — the primary aquifer systems for much of the Green Bay metro area.
The very hard 273 mg/L hardness and extreme TDS of 917 mg/L reflect the remarkable mineral richness of the Silurian Niagara Dolomite aquifer in Brown County. The Niagara Dolomite is a massively bedded, ancient reef-derived carbonate rock formed from Silurian tropical reef ecosystems approximately 430 million years ago — dense, highly fractured, and composed essentially entirely of calcium magnesium carbonate. Groundwater circulating through this dolomite matrix dissolves calcium and magnesium bicarbonates along with associated sulfate minerals at extraordinary rates, producing water with near-extreme dissolved solids content comparable to some mineral spring waters.
At 273 mg/L, De Pere residents face very hard water as a constant household management challenge. Scale forms immediately in kettles and coffee machines, dishwashers leave heavy mineral coating on all glassware without softener treatment, and bathroom tiles develop white calcium crust within days. Water heaters in De Pere homes lose efficiency rapidly from carbonate insulation buildup. A whole-house water softener is highly recommended and widely used in Brown County communities. The combination of extreme TDS (917 mg/L) and high hardness also produces a distinctly mineral taste in tap water — an under-sink reverse osmosis unit significantly improves drinking water palatability and removes the heavy mineral flavor.
Geology & Source: De Pere in Brown County draws from the Fox River corridor wells and municipal system drawing ultimately from deep Silurian Niagara Dolomite and Devonian carbonate aquifer in the Green Bay area — the Niagara Dolomite underlying northeastern Wisconsin is a massively thick ancient reef formation — prolific carbonate dissolution in the dolomite reef aquifer produces very hard water at 273 mg/L with extreme TDS of 917 mg/L.