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

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

Glendale Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

578.3 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 Glendale, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Glendale	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 Glendale compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Glendale, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Brown Deer, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	3.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Shorewood, Wisconsin	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	≈ 60–120 mg/L	10 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Glendale compares to the USA average

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

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 578.3 mg/LpH: 8.2

Glendale Waterworks is the municipal water utility for Glendale, Wisconsin, a community within Milwaukee County. The utility draws its water from a mix of groundwater and surface water sources, a common approach in southeastern Wisconsin. Residents can find annual water quality reports, which detail compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards and contaminant monitoring, archived on the City of Glendale's official website.

The Glendale water supply is located within the Milwaukee River watershed. Geologically, the area is underlain by Silurian and Ordovician carbonate formations, notably the Niagara Dolomite and related limestone units. These ancient marine sedimentary rocks are quite soluble. As groundwater travels through this rock matrix, it picks up significant amounts of calcium and magnesium, leading to the characteristically hard water found throughout the region.

With water hardness at this level, homeowners often notice scale buildup on faucets and showerheads, and may find that soaps and detergents don't lather as effectively. Appliances that heat water, such as water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, are especially susceptible to mineral deposits that can shorten their lifespan and reduce efficiency. Installing a water softener is a common recommendation to combat these issues, helping to extend the life of your appliances and improve cleaning power. Glendale Waterworks also monitors for specific contaminants, with historical reports noting trace amounts of substances like Dalapon, Bromate, and Lindane, which are managed through standard treatment processes.

Geology & Source: Silurian and Ordovician dolomite and limestone; Niagara Dolomite and St. Peter Sandstone formations are highly soluble, creating hard water

Other Wisconsin Water Reports

Brown Deer

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Whitefish Bay

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Shorewood

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Milwaukee

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glendale's water safe to drink?

Yes. Glendale'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 Glendale?

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

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