Stevens Point Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Stevens Point Municipal Water Utility serves the city of Stevens Point in Portage County, Wisconsin, providing drinking water to approximately 25,000 residents. The primary water source is the Wisconsin River, with intake points near Lake Dubay upstream and directly at Stevens Point. Water is treated at the city's municipal treatment facility using disinfection via chlorination. Storage is managed through two elevated tanks with a combined capacity of 1,750,000 gallons, supporting an average daily pumpage of 5,300,000 gallons.

The Wisconsin River watershed spans over 17,000 square miles in central Wisconsin, shaped by Pleistocene glaciation. Underlying Paleozoic bedrock — including dolomites, limestones, and sandstones from the Ordovician and Cambrian periods — weathers to release calcium and magnesium into the river system. Glacial deposits of till and outwash further influence infiltration and ion exchange, imparting a hard character to the supply alongside bicarbonate alkalinity from carbonate dissolution throughout the drainage basin.

Hard water from this supply causes noticeable scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan while increasing energy costs. Soap and detergent performance diminishes, requiring more product for lathering. Regular descaling of fixtures and appliances, installing sediment filters, and whole-house water softening systems are recommended to mitigate these effects. The utility earned an A grade (98.1) on the 2024 water quality report card under Wisconsin standards, with no lead or copper violations; pH is typically neutral to slightly alkaline due to natural carbonate buffering.