Salem Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
436.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.43
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 Salem, your appliances are currently losing 22% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Salem | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -49% |
| Washing Machine | 7.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -37% |
| Water Heater | 9.1 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Salem compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salem, Wisconsin | 162 mg/L | 4.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Antioch, Illinois | 249.5 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Lindenhurst, Illinois | 146 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Fox Lake, Illinois | 194.5 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin | 206.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Salem compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Salem | 162 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Salem's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Salem, Wisconsin, in Kenosha County — a Kenosha County town adjacent to Paddock Lake and Bristol in the southeast Wisconsin lake district — receives its water from the Town of Salem Water system, drawing from deep Silurian dolomite wells through the southeast Wisconsin distribution.
The hard 162 mg/L hardness and TDS of 436.2 mg/L reflect the Kenosha County Silurian dolomite supply's hard dolomitic character — the Silurian Niagaran Dolomite and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite are among the most calcareous and dolomitic formations in Wisconsin, and the elevated TDS reflects concentrated groundwater mineral content from deep dolomite dissolution in southeast Wisconsin (compare Paddock Lake WI: 158/424 in Kenosha County comparable; Bristol WI: 166/448 in Kenosha County comparable; Salem consistent hard from the same Kenosha County Silurian dolomitic groundwater supply). The Kenosha County aquifer — Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic — primary hardness contributor), Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (dolomitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary glacial till (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 162 mg/L with TDS 436, Salem's water is hard — scale builds notably in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 4.5 ppt is moderate and well-managed. Review the Salem town water utility's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Salem in Kenosha County draws from the Salem Water on the Kenosha County aquifer (Kenosha County, southeast Wisconsin) — the Kenosha County aquifer is developed in Silurian Niagaran Dolomite (highly dolomitic) and Ordovician Prairie du Chien Dolomite (dolomitic) — Wisconsin Kenosha County Silurian dolomitic groundwater produces hard water at 162 mg/L with TDS 436.2 mg/L.