Hardness
Very Hard
255.5 PPM · 14.9 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in La Crosse, WI 54603
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for La Crosse County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- La Crosse Waterworks
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- La Crosse County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0.0109 mg/L
73% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 53,000 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
255.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
255.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.9
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 255.5 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
2
Nearest site
41.6 mi
Observation range
Aug 9, 2017–Aug 29, 2018
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 54603 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
La Crosse median
269 PPM
13 PPM lower2 indexed ZIP readings · Range 255.5–283 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
32 PPM lower556 indexed ZIP readings · Range 41.3–467 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 pass
Lead (PB90)
0.0109 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0109
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 50
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Oct 30, 2025through Nov 20, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | WI6320307 | Resolved | Jul 2, 2025through Aug 7, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 29, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 29, 2025 |
| Public Notice | WI6320638 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | WI6320638 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 4, 2024 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 4, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Mar 1, 2024through Mar 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Jan 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Oct 31, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2023through Aug 31, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 27, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | WI6320638 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Jul 27, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI6320309 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2023through Apr 1, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320319 | Resolved | Dec 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | WI6320307 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Oct 31, 2021 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | WI6320323 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Sep 30, 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 La Crosse ZIP 54603 using 255.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
255.5 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
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS 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 La Crosse
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for La Crosse
Is tap water safe in La Crosse?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 255.5 PPM, or 14.9 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 255.5 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.