Hardness
Very Hard
270 PPM · 15.8 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Winona, MN 55987
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Winona County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Winona
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Winona County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.002 mg/L
13% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 27,782 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
270 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
270
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
15.8
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 270 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
13
Nearest site
50.1 mi
Observation range
Jul 11, 2017–Sep 10, 2024
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 098N05W30ACDC 08170 1957Waukon 4 (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 55987 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Winona median
291 PPM
21 PPM lower2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 270–312 PPM
Minnesota median
318 PPM
48 PPM lower319 indexed ZIP readings · Range 46.1–716 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.002 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.002
EPA limit 0.015
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 5.1
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 5.1 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1850013 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1850013 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2021through Jun 30, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6.2 PCI/L · MCL 5 | MN1850013 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Mar 31, 2021 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Winona ZIP 55987 using 270 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
270 PPM is 2× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Winona
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Winona
Is tap water safe in Winona?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 270 PPM, or 15.8 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 270 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.