Hennepin County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead

Hennepin County, Minnesota has about 1,273,334 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 44 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Minneapolis, serving about 425,300 people from surface water.

✓ 0 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 6 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 5.5 gpg (high confidence)

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

How hard is Hennepin County water?

Minneapolis Measured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence

5.5 gpg (94 mg/L, system (plant effluent)), moderately hard · range 80–113 mg/L

Source: MINNEAPOLIS water quality report, 2025

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

Softener size at 5.5 gpg

For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 6,584 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain.

Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

Open the softener calculator with 5.5 gpg

Largest water systems in Hennepin County

The 6 biggest of 44 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.

Minneapolis

MN1270024 · serves about 425,300 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 12 ppt (7 of 8 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Bloomington

MN1270001 · serves about 91,300 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 12.9 ppt (6 of 6 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Brooklyn Park

MN1270005 · serves about 89,995 people · Groundwater

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (5 types)

Lead 90th percentile: 1 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 24.4 ppt (8 of 10 samples); no federal limit
  • PFOA: highest sample 10.5 ppt (2 of 10 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
  • PFOS: highest sample 9.5 ppt (3 of 10 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
  • PFHxS: highest sample 4.8 ppt (6 of 10 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
  • PFBS: highest sample 3.2 ppt (1 of 10 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit

EPA ECHO record

Maple Grove

MN1270020 · serves about 82,000 people · Groundwater

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 10.1 ppt (1 of 2 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Plymouth

MN1270044 · serves about 76,546 people · Groundwater

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 19.1 ppt (4 of 4 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Eden Prairie

MN1270010 · serves about 63,726 people · Groundwater

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (1 type)

Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 12.7 ppt (2 of 2 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.

Test your own tap

These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.

Common questions about Hennepin County water

Is tap water in Hennepin County safe to drink?

None of the 6 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Minneapolis's most recent lead 90th percentile was 2 ppb (2022), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.

How hard is the water in Hennepin County?

Minneapolis reports about 5.5 grains per gallon (94 mg/L), which is moderately hard. For a 3-person home at 5.5 gpg, our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.

Is there PFAS in Hennepin County water?

6 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 2 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.

Which water system serves my address in Hennepin County?

Most homes are served by Minneapolis or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.

More Minnesota counties

Sources for this page

Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.