How does Portage's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Portage (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Portage Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.007 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

224 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Portage, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Portage	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Portage compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Portage, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	15.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Baraboo, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Waunakee, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Middleton, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Portage compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Portage	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Portage's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 224 mg/LpH: 7.8

Portage Waterworks supplies drinking water to the City of Portage, Wisconsin, drawing from the Wisconsin River system, including Lake Dubay and Stevens Point, as well as local groundwater. The utility's treatment plants serve all customers throughout the region. This water originates in the Wisconsin River watershed, which flows through central Wisconsin's glaciated terrain. The underlying geology is dominated by Ordovician and Silurian dolomite and limestone. As water passes through these carbonate rocks, it dissolves calcium and magnesium, contributing to the water's mineral content. Monitoring stations on the Wisconsin River at Stevens Point and Lake Dubay confirm this moderate mineral profile, characteristic of the area's hydrogeology.

Scale buildup in appliances like water heaters and kettles can be a concern for Portage residents, as the water is classified as moderately hard. You'll notice that hard water doesn't lather as well with soap during laundry and dishwashing. Over time, mineral deposits can also clog fixtures, reducing shower flow and making appliances less efficient. Installing a water softener is often recommended for homeowners looking to mitigate these effects and potentially extend the lifespan of their appliances. While this level of hardness doesn't present immediate health risks, Portage Waterworks does monitor for lead and copper, advising residents to flush taps after periods of inactivity. Common contaminants found in Wisconsin systems, such as arsenic and PFAS, are also detailed in the utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Geology & Source: Wisconsin River watershed; Paleozoic dolomite and limestone formations dissolve readily, contributing moderate mineral content

Other Wisconsin Water Reports

Baraboo

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Waunakee

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Sun Prairie

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Middleton

≈ 120–179 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 Portage's water safe to drink?

Yes. Portage's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Portage?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Portage'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 20%.

How does Portage compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Portage (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Portage 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.