South Milwaukee Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

241 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 South Milwaukee, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In South Milwaukee	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 South Milwaukee compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ South Milwaukee, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Oak Creek, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Cudahy, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Caledonia, Wisconsin	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	≈ 60–120 mg/L	10 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river

National Benchmark

How South Milwaukee compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ South Milwaukee	≈ 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 South Milwaukee's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 241 mg/LpH: 7.8

South Milwaukee Waterworks is the municipal utility serving approximately 21,873 residents in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. Water is sourced exclusively from Lake Michigan, with intake and treatment at the utility's facility at 2424 15th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172, using ultra-filtration processes. The utility can be reached at 414-762-2222. The service area covers the South Milwaukee community.

The Lake Michigan basin is fed by rivers and precipitation across multiple states within the broader Great Lakes system. Underlying geology features ancient Precambrian shield rocks capped by Paleozoic limestone and dolomite formations from the Silurian and Devonian periods, prominent around the lake basin and forming the Niagara Escarpment. Glacial deposits and dissolution of these carbonate formations contribute calcium and magnesium to the surface water, producing a hard supply characteristic of Lake Michigan-sourced utilities.

Hard water causes significant scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and plumbing fixtures through calcium and magnesium deposits that reduce efficiency and lifespan. Regular descaling, installing drain screens, and periodic water heater flushing are advised. A water softener is generally recommended for households. Drinking water meets or surpasses all federal and state standards; treatment includes ultra-filtration. One contaminant exceeds EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs) though within legal limits; PFAS has been noted in quality assessments, and filter use is recommended for vulnerable groups.

Geology & Source: Lake Michigan basin; Precambrian bedrock overlain by Silurian-Devonian Paleozoic limestone and dolomite — Niagara Escarpment; glacial deposits; limestone and dolomite dissolution produces hard water

Other Wisconsin Water Reports

Oak Creek

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Cudahy

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Caledonia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Milwaukee

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately 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 South Milwaukee's water safe to drink?

Yes. South Milwaukee'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 South Milwaukee?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), South Milwaukee'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 South Milwaukee compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. South Milwaukee (≈ 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 South Milwaukee 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.