Oregon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
4.7 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.001 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
178.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.22
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 Oregon, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Oregon | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -19% |
| Washing Machine | 10.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -12% |
| Water Heater | 12.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -17% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Oregon compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oregon, Wisconsin | 81 mg/L | 2.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Fitchburg, Wisconsin | 107 mg/L | 3.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Madison, Wisconsin | 145.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Verona, Wisconsin | 161 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Stoughton, Wisconsin | 178.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Oregon compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Oregon | 81 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Oregon's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Oregon, Wisconsin, in Dane County — a Dane County village adjacent to Fitchburg and Stoughton in the south Madison metro area — receives its water from the Village of Oregon Water Utility, drawing from the dolomite/sandstone aquifer wells through the south-central Wisconsin distribution.
The moderately hard 81 mg/L hardness and TDS of 178.7 mg/L reflect the Dane County supply's moderate south Wisconsin dolomite character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Galena Dolomite are slightly dolomitic-calcareous formations in the south Wisconsin limestone plain; Oregon's well supply at moderate depth draws from dolomite aquifer zones with moderate mineral content, softer than deeper Wells in the Galena zone (compare Fitchburg WI: 78/172 in Dane County comparable; Stoughton WI: 84/185 in Dane County comparable; Oregon consistent moderate from the same Dane County Ordovician Dolomite well supply). The Dane County dolomite aquifer — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic — secondary contributor), Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary Wisconsin drift deposit (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 81 mg/L with TDS 179, Oregon's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 2.7 ppt is very low — an excellent and clean result for south Dane County. Review the Village of Oregon Water Utility's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Oregon in Dane County draws from the Oregon Water on the Dolomite/Sandstone aquifer wells (Dane County, south-central Wisconsin) — the south Wisconsin limestone plain at Dane County draws from Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (slightly dolomitic) and Ordovician Galena Dolomite (calcareous dolomitic) — Wisconsin Dane County Ordovician Dolomite well supply produces moderately hard water at 81 mg/L with TDS 178.7 mg/L.