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

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

Fitchburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

252.8 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 Fitchburg, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Fitchburg	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 Fitchburg compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Fitchburg, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Verona, Wisconsin	340.4 mg/L	10.1 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Oregon, Wisconsin	310 mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Madison, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Middleton, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Fitchburg compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 252.8 mg/LpH: 7.6

The City of Fitchburg Public Works Department/Utility Division manages the drinking water supply for Fitchburg in Dane County, Wisconsin, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across approximately 30 square miles. Water is sourced from multiple municipal wells tapping into local groundwater aquifers, with no surface water intake; three primary public water systems are noted in reports, treated at facilities overseen by Utility Supervisor Barry Schwingel. The system complies with all EPA and state standards as per the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report, available via the city's official website and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Fitchburg's supply originates from the Yahara River watershed area in south-central Wisconsin, underlain by Paleozoic bedrock including dolomites, sandstones, and limestones from the Prairie du Chien and Jordan Formations. Groundwater is extracted from confined aquifers including Cambrian sandstone layers such as the Mount Simon Sandstone and Eau Claire Formation, which impart a hard character due to prolonged contact with carbonate minerals. The geology also contributes naturally occurring radium from granitic decay products in the subsurface, alongside nitrates from agricultural runoff in Dane County's fertile plains, reflecting the region's glaciated terrain and karst influences.

Hard water in Fitchburg promotes limescale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines—hot water appliances may suffer 20–30% higher energy use, and soap lathering is poor, leaving spots on dishes and skin dryness. Regular vinegar descaling and a whole-house water softener set to 3–7 grains residual hardness are recommended; bypass kitchen taps for drinking if sodium is a concern. EWG flags 9 contaminants over health guidelines, including nitrate (4.36 ppm), radium (1.27 pCi/L), haloacetic acids (6.9 ppb), and TTHMs (18.3 ppb) linked to agricultural runoff and disinfection; the 2024 CCR reports full lead/copper rule compliance with no exceedances.

Geology & Source: Dane County Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone aquifers (Mount Simon Sandstone, Eau Claire Formation) and Prairie du Chien Group dolomitic limestones — carbonate-rich bedrock yields characteristically hard supply

Other Wisconsin Water Reports

Verona

340.4 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Oregon

310 mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Madison

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Middleton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fitchburg's water safe to drink?

Yes. Fitchburg'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 Fitchburg?

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

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