North La Crosse Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.3 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
626 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.56
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 North La Crosse, your appliances are currently losing 28% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In North La Crosse | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -68% |
| Washing Machine | 5.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -52% |
| Water Heater | 7.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -52% |
Regional Water Comparison
How North La Crosse compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ North La Crosse, Wisconsin | 210 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Onalaska, Wisconsin | 274.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| La Crosse, Wisconsin | 151.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Winona, Minnesota | 204 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Eau Claire, Wisconsin | 168.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How North La Crosse compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ North La Crosse | 210 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes North La Crosse's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
North La Crosse, Wisconsin — a neighborhood and district of La Crosse, the La Crosse County seat on the Mississippi River at the Wisconsin–Minnesota–Iowa tristate corridor — draws its municipal water supply from the Mt. Simon–Hinckley Sandstone Aquifer and Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer via the City of La Crosse Water Utility. Water hardness in North La Crosse measures 210 mg/L — classified as very hard.
North La Crosse's very hard supply reflects the La Crosse County Mississippi River Valley calcareous Paleozoic aquifer. The City of La Crosse Water Utility wells pump: the Cambrian Mt. Simon–Hinckley Sandstone (calcareous-cemented sandstone of the basal Cambrian sequence — moderate calcareous contribution from the sandstone cement); the Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (highly calcareous Ordovician dolomite of the Driftless Area — the principal calcareous aquifer of the Mississippi Valley); and the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer (moderately calcareous alluvial sand and gravel recharged from the calcareous Paleozoic bluffs). The Prairie du Chien Dolomite's karst dissolution in the La Crosse Driftless Area produces the very hard 210 mg/L.
At 210 mg/L, North La Crosse residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on all fixtures and tile — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is essential maintenance. City of La Crosse Water Utility consistently delivers water meeting all Wisconsin DNR and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Mt. Simon–Hinckley Sandstone Aquifer and the La Crosse River–Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer via the City of La Crosse Water Utility — the La Crosse County Mississippi River Valley (Cambrian Mt. Simon–Hinckley Sandstone and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite); very hard supply at 210 mg/L in La Crosse County.