Hardest Water in Minnesota
16 cities ranked by water hardness. Woodbury tops the list at 271 PPM.
Minnesota's water hardness varies significantly by city and water source. The state average across our database is 216 PPM, which is very hard. Most Minnesota households will benefit from a water softener. 88% of cities we track in Minnesota have hardness above 120 PPM.
Woodbury has the hardest water at 271 PPM (15.8 GPG). At this level, expect visible scale on faucets, reduced water heater efficiency, and higher soap usage. A salt-based water softener can pay for itself over time in energy and consumable savings, though the payback depends heavily on your hardness and whether you heat water with gas or electricity. Estimate your payback. Duluth has the softest water at just 21 PPM. No softener is needed.
| # | City | PPM | GPG | Level | Softener? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodbury | 271 | 15.8 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 2 | Mankato | 270 | 15.8 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 3 | Lakeville | 265 | 15.5 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 4 | Eden Prairie | 260 | 15.2 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 5 | Bloomington | 257 | 15 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 6 | Burnsville | 255 | 14.9 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 7 | Plymouth | 254 | 14.9 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 8 | Maple Grove | 250 | 14.6 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 9 | Blaine | 245 | 14.3 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 10 | Brooklyn Park | 240 | 14 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 11 | St. Cloud | 230 | 13.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 12 | Minneapolis | 200 | 11.7 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 13 | Rochester | 200 | 11.7 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 14 | St. Paul East | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 15 | St. Paul | 68 | 4 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 16 | Duluth | 21 | 1.2 | Slightly Hard | No |