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Watertown MN Water Softener and Drinking Water Guide

watertown mn water hardness
The City of Watertown MN provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source: three wells ranging from 153-475 feet deep, that draw water from the Quaternary Buried Artesian and Franconia-Ironton-Galesville aquifers.

Watertown’s water has a high level of total dissolved solids (TDS) and inorganic matter that may affect taste.

  • Soft Water
  • National Hardness Average
  • Watertown MN Water Hardness

Watertown Water Softener Recommendations

The national average for water hardness is 5gpg (grains per gallon). Watertown water hardness is 25-27gpg, which is over 5x harder than average.

A water softener will protect your water heater, plumbing, and appliances from hard water damage.  A high efficiency water softener will offer the same protection, but will use far less water and salt.

Need the Right Water Softener or Filter for Your Home in Watertown, MN?

Contact us for a FREE water test and site inspection.  We’ll get you a FREE quote to help you get the water quality you want.

Watertown Water Reports

The City of Watertown, MN does regular water testing and publishes the results in Annual Drinking Water Reports. These reports explain which water contaminants, and what levels have been found.

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The EPA has two standards for drinking water contaminants:

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
The legal limit for a certain contaminant

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level GOAL
The level with ZERO HEALTH RISKS, aka the “Health Limit”

All water contaminants meet the EPA’s “Legal Limit”. Contaminants that exceed the EPA’s Health Limit have been highlighted below.

Inorganic Contaminants

Inorganic contaminants include natural and manmade salts and metals. You are mostly exposed to inorganics through drinking water, most do not easily pass through skin. Carbon Filters (refrigerator and faucet filters) have almost ZERO impact on these contaminants. Reverse Osmosis very effective at removing inorganic contaminants.

Contaminant Amount Found Health Limit Legal Limit Potential Effects
Arsenic 1.44-3.71 0 10 Skin damage or problems w/ circulatory systems, increased risk of cancer
Barium 0.012 2 2 Increase in blood pressure
Fluoride 0.99-1.6 4 4 Bone disease;children may get mottled teeth
Manganese 0.03 0.05 0.5 Lowered IQ, black stains, appliance damage
Nitrate 1.2 10 10 Blue-baby syndrome

Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts

Disinfectants are added to kill bacteria. Disinfectants like Chlorine react with other chemicals and create “Disinfection Byproducts. These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, absorption through skin, and drinking water. A Whole House Carbon Filter is a good preventative tool in addition to a Drinking Water System for these compounds.

Contaminant Amount Found Health Limit Legal Limit Potential Effects
Chlorine 0.59-0.90 4 4 Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort
Chloroform 3.35-25.0 5.7 80 Nervous system depression, increase in kidney and liver tumors
Haloacetic Acids 20.9 0 80 Increased risk of cancer
Total Trihalomethanes 31.8-53.7 0 60 Increased risk of cancer

Radionuclide Contaminants

Radionuclides in water may occur naturally, or come from oil and gas production or mining activities. These can be inhaled, or consumed through drinking water.

Contaminant Amount Found Health Limit Legal Limit Potential Effects
Alpha Emitter 1.38-3.0 0 15.4 Increased risk of cancer
Radon 103.5-550 0 NA Increased risk of cancer
This information was compiled from Watertown’s water treatment reports, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Minnesota Department of Health(DOH), World Health Organization(WHO), and Environmental Working Group(EWG).
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