Howard Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11.8 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
592.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.54
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 Howard, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Howard | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -66% |
| Washing Machine | 6.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -49% |
| Water Heater | 7.5 yrs | 15 yrs | -50% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Howard compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Howard, Wisconsin | 202 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin | 213 mg/L | 5.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Green Bay, Wisconsin | 242 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Allouez, Wisconsin | 174.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| De Pere, Wisconsin | 273 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Howard compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Howard | 202 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Howard's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Howard, Wisconsin, in Brown County — a Brown County village in the Green Bay metropolitan area adjacent to Suamico and Hobart, in the Green Bay suburban north corridor, one of Wisconsin's fastest-growing communities — receives its municipal water from the Village of Howard Water Department or the Green Bay Water Utility, drawing from the Fox River at Green Bay or from Brown County groundwater wells in the Silurian Niagara Dolomite bedrock aquifer.
The hard 202 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 592.7 mg/L reflect the Brown County Green Bay area's Silurian Niagara Dolomite character — the same carbonate aquifer that produces hard water throughout the Door Peninsula and the Lake Michigan western shore. The Fox River at Green Bay drains the Lake Winnebago basin (Wisconsin Till Plain calcareous Pleistocene glacial deposits over Silurian dolomite bedrock) and the Wolf-Embarrass River system (central Wisconsin). Brown County groundwater wells access the Niagara Dolomite directly, producing the hard, high-TDS water characteristic of northeast Wisconsin.
At 202 mg/L, Howard's water is hard — scale builds rapidly in appliances and plumbing. A water softener is recommended. Dishes spot heavily, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits quickly. The PFAS level of 5.5 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Marinette chemical-fire suppression manufacturing corridor (Marinette County — Tyco/Chemguard PFAS manufacturing), the Fox River Valley 3M paper-PFAS legacy (Brown-Outagamie County Fox River), and the Green Bay industrial PFAS complex contribute to Howard's readings.
Geology & Source: Howard in Brown County draws from Green Bay Water Utility on the Fox River (Green Bay) or Brown County wells (Silurian Niagara Dolomite bedrock aquifer) — the Fox River drains the Lake Winnebago basin (Wisconsin calcareous glacial till over Silurian dolomite) — Wisconsin Fox River Silurian dolomite and calcareous till produces hard water at 202 mg/L with high TDS 593 mg/L in this Brown County Wisconsin village.