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?
MinneapolisMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
5.5 gpg(94 mg/L, system (plant effluent)), moderately hard · range 80–113 mg/L
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.