How does Little Chute's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Little Chute (253 mg/L) is 102 mg/L harder than average.

Little Chute Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

253mg/L

Very Hard

14.8 grains per gallon

Source

groundwater

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

819.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.67

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

253mg/L as CaCO₃Very Hard

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 Little Chute, your appliances are currently losing 34% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Little Chute	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	5.6 yrs	8.5 yrs	-34%
Washing Machine	7.9 yrs	12 yrs	-34%
Water Heater	9.9 yrs	15 yrs	-34%

Regional Water Comparison

How Little Chute compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Little Chute, Wisconsin	253 mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Kaukauna, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Appleton, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Menasha, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Neenah, Wisconsin	160 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Little Chute compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Little Chute	253 mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Little Chute's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 819.2 mg/LpH: 8.5

The Village of Little Chute in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, receives its water supply from the Little Chute Waterworks. This utility draws from groundwater sources within the Fox River Valley aquifer system. For inquiries, residents can contact Jerry Verstegen, MCO Operations Specialist, at 920-788-7522 or the main utility line at 920-788-7522. The Little Chute Waterworks operates from its 108 W Main Street location and is dedicated to maintaining water quality for its customers.

The groundwater for Little Chute is sourced from the Fox River Valley aquifer system, which is geologically situated atop Ordovician and Silurian dolomite and limestone formations. These ancient marine carbonate bedrock units have been further shaped by Pleistocene glaciation, a common characteristic of northeastern Wisconsin's geology. This specific geological makeup naturally imbues the groundwater with minerals, leading to the characteristic mineralization found in carbonate aquifer systems throughout the region.

While the water quality report card for Little Chute Waterworks received an impressive grade of A (99.0) for health metrics, the utility is actively managing lead pipe removal and addressing contaminants that have been reported above EPA health-based guidelines. Homeowners may notice mineral buildup in appliances and pipes over time due to the naturally high mineral content. Regularly descaling coffee makers and water heaters can help maintain their efficiency. If you're experiencing issues with soap lathering or excessive spotting on dishes, a water softener might be a worthwhile consideration for your home.

Geology & Source: Fox River Valley aquifer system; Ordovician and Silurian dolomite and limestone bedrock produce naturally high hardness

Other Wisconsin Water Reports

Kaukauna

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Appleton

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Menasha

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Neenah

160 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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 Little Chute's water safe to drink?

Yes. Little Chute's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 253 mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Little Chute?

At 253 mg/L (Very Hard), Little Chute'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 34%.

How does Little Chute compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Little Chute (253 mg/L) is 102 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Little Chute 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.