Hardness
Very Hard
250 PPM · 14.6 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Crawford County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Prairie Du Chien Waterworks
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Crawford 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
0.0014 mg/L
9% of action level
Utility match
3 systems
Serves 6,005 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
250 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
250
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
14.6
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 250 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
16
Nearest site
26.3 mi
Observation range
Aug 3, 2016–May 15, 2019
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 53821 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Prairie Du Chien median
250 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 250–250 PPM
Wisconsin median
288 PPM
38 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)
0.0014 mg/L
Reported Sep 30, 2024
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 0.0014
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 3
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice | WI6120331 | Unaddressed | Oct 17, 2024 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | WI6120331 | Resolved | Oct 17, 2024through May 23, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | WI6120331 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Feb 12, 2024 |
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 Prairie Du Chien ZIP 53821 using 250 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
250 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 systemsAffiliate 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.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Prairie Du Chien
Is tap water safe in Prairie Du Chien?+
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 250 PPM, or 14.6 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 250 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.