Howard Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
180+ mg/L
Very Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
515 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.91
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Howard | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Howard compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Howard, Wisconsin | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin | 130 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Green Bay, Wisconsin | 130 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Allouez, Wisconsin | 128.4 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| De Pere, Wisconsin | 139 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Howard compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Howard | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Howard home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Howard's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Howard Waterworks, operated by the Village of Howard in Brown County, Wisconsin, serves approximately 20,000 residents in the Village of Howard and surrounding areas near Green Bay. The utility sources its supply from multiple groundwater wells tapping into deep aquifers beneath the Niagara Escarpment region. Treatment occurs at the Howard Waterworks plant located at 1336 Cornell Road, Green Bay, WI 54313, involving disinfection, aeration, and corrosion control. The system complies with Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 810 standards for public water supplies; contact: 920-434-4060; website: villageofhoward.com.
The watershed feeding Howard's groundwater is part of the greater Fox River basin, spanning northeastern Wisconsin's glacial landscape. Recharge occurs through permeable sands and gravels overlying Silurian-age dolomite and limestone formations, part of the regionally extensive Eastern Dolomite Aquifer. These Paleozoic carbonate rocks weather to release alkaline minerals, imparting a hard character with elevated mineralisation from natural dissolution. The geology favors hardness due to prolonged contact with limestone, moderated slightly by overlying glacial drift but without softening agents such as coniferous bogs or igneous rock.
Very hard water in Howard promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Faucet aerators and showerheads clog quickly; laundry requires excess detergent and leaves spots on glassware. Maintenance involves regular descaling with vinegar solutions, installing sediment pre-filters, and flushing hot water tanks biannually. A water softener is strongly recommended for households to mitigate staining and protect appliances. Annual Consumer Confidence Reports (2024, 2020, 2018) confirm full EPA compliance; trace Hexachlorobenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, and Tetrachloroethylene detected but below limits; two contaminants exceed EPA MCLGs per third-party analysis.
Geology & Source: Brown County, Wisconsin; glacial drift sands and gravels overlying Silurian dolomite and limestone of Door-Kewaunee aquifer — Paleozoic carbonates dissolve calcium and magnesium; Fox River watershed recharge — hard supply
Other Wisconsin Water Reports
Report an Issue
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 Howard's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Howard?
How does Howard compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Howard is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.