Understand Your Water Before Choosing Treatment
A.J. Alberts helps Twin Cities homeowners understand water hardness, filtration options, and PFAS testing. Water conditions depend on your supply and existing treatment. Start with current utility information and the right test for your question, then decide whether treatment would help.
A Regional Water Report Is Not a Test of Your Home
Municipal reports can distinguish untreated source water from treated drinking water. A PFAS detection in a source well does not automatically describe water delivered to customers. A city-wide report also does not measure a private well or changes introduced by household plumbing.
Use your water utility's latest Consumer Confidence Report and notices. Private well owners can ask the Minnesota Department of Health about PFAS in drinking water and testing guidance.
Explore Water Information by City
This map is a guide to city water references, not a contamination map or a test of your home. Numerical hardness references link to their city source. Unknown values are left unpublished. A PFAS reference does not establish the level in treated municipal water or a private well. Verify the current report for your own water source.
City Water References
Use a hardness measurement from your home, your utility's current report or well-specific results, and the appropriate test for your question. The links below provide public guidance; map markers do not represent household test results.
| City | Hardness | PFAS information | Guidance reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afton, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Andover, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Bayport, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Blaine, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Bloomington, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Chisago City, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Circle Pines, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Coon Rapids, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Cottage Grove, MN | 17 gpg, city-published reference Verify at your home. Source checked 2026-09-18. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Eagan, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Edina, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Excelsior, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Forest Lake, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Ham Lake, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Hastings, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Hudson, WI | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Hugo, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Inver Grove Heights, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Lake Elmo, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Lakeland, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Lakeville, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Mahtomedi, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Maplewood, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Minnetonka, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| New Brighton, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Newport, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Oakdale, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Orono, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Plymouth, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| River Falls, WI | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Roseville, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Saint Paul, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Shoreview, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| St. Louis Park, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| St. Paul Park, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Stillwater, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Wayzata, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| White Bear Lake, MN | No verified local number published here. Test at your home. | Check the current report for the utility serving your address. For a private well, use well-specific testing guidance. A regional history or source-well result does not establish the concentration at your tap. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
| Woodbury, MN | 13.5 gpg, city-published reference Verify at your home. Source checked 2026-09-18. | Woodbury reports health advisories affecting nine of its 20 source wells and treatment before affected water enters distribution. Source-well results are not the same as treated tap-water results. Check the city's current monitoring information. Source information | 2026-09-18 |
PFAS: Focus on Drinking and Cooking Water
PFAS are a group of persistent chemicals. When PFAS are present in drinking water, reducing ingestion is the important household water consideration. MDH says bathing, showering, and washing clothes in water with PFAS are safe because absorption through skin is limited. Follow any supply-specific health advice.
Read MDH's PFAS exposure guidance. A whole-home system is not automatically necessary solely because you live in an East Metro city.
Check the exact filter model
Carbon and reverse osmosis products differ in performance. Look for the specific PFAS reduction claim: NSF/ANSI 53 for applicable non-RO filters or NSF/ANSI 58 for RO systems. A general certification logo, taste improvement, or a different contaminant claim is not enough. Certification also does not necessarily show compliance with the latest EPA limits.
EPA guidance on PFAS filter certification · Compare filtration options
Hard Water Is a Mineral Issue, Not a PFAS Result
Calcium and magnesium can leave spots, affect soap performance, and contribute to scale. Hardness itself is not a health concern. Some utilities soften their supply, and household treatment can change the reading again.
USGS classifies water as soft at 0 to 60 mg/L as calcium carbonate, moderately hard at 61 to 120 mg/L, hard at 121 to 180 mg/L, and very hard above 180 mg/L. A hardness classification does not make a softener mandatory.
Size and program equipment from an actual water test, household demand, and the manufacturer's instructions. There is no single capacity or hardness adjustment that is right for every Twin Cities home.
Private Wells, Staining, and Odor
Staining or an odor can help identify what to investigate, but appearance and smell cannot establish drinking-water safety. A basic hardness or iron test does not rule out bacteria, nitrate, or PFAS. Discuss the appropriate tests for your well with a qualified testing provider or public health agency.
Explore iron and odor treatmentStart with the Question You Need Answered
- Tell us whether you use city water or a private well, what you have noticed, and what treatment you already have.
- Schedule a free basic water test, or ask specifically about PFAS testing arrangements and pricing.
- Review the relevant results and any utility guidance before selecting equipment.
- Request a written installation quote and a model-specific maintenance plan.
Water Quality Questions
Does A.J. Alberts offer PFAS testing?
A.J. Alberts offers separate paid laboratory PFAS testing for municipal-water and private-well customers. We collect and submit the sample and explain the report. Confirm the test scope, price, and turnaround when scheduling; PFAS is not included in the free basic water test.
What does the free in-home water test measure?
Our free basic in-home water test checks hardness, iron, chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and total dissolved solids, with nitrate testing for private wells. It does not measure PFAS or certify that water is safe to drink.
Does living in an East Metro city mean my tap water has PFAS?
No. A regional contamination history or a detection in an untreated well does not establish the concentration in your drinking water. Check current results for your municipal supply. Private well owners need information about their own well.
Does every Twin Cities home need a water softener?
No. Hardness varies by water source and some utilities soften their supply. A softener addresses calcium and magnesium, not PFAS. Decide based on your measured hardness, existing treatment, scale concerns, and preferences.
Is whole-home filtration necessary for PFAS?
Not automatically. A filter certified for the relevant PFAS reduction claim at a drinking and cooking tap can be an option. Minnesota Department of Health guidance says bathing, showering, and washing clothes in water with PFAS are safe because skin absorption is limited. Follow any specific advice for your water supply.
How should I choose a PFAS filter?
Check the exact model and its certified PFAS reduction claim, not just the brand or a general NSF logo. NSF/ANSI 53 applies to relevant non-RO treatment units; NSF/ANSI 58 applies to reverse osmosis systems. Certification does not necessarily mean the filter meets the latest EPA drinking-water limits. Follow the maintenance schedule and discuss follow-up testing.
Does a pitcher or refrigerator filter remove PFAS?
Some models have a certified PFAS reduction claim and others do not. Check the certification listing for the exact filter. A chlorine taste-and-odor claim alone does not demonstrate PFAS reduction.
How much does filtration cost and how often does it need service?
Installation cost and maintenance depend on the equipment, water chemistry, flow, and use. Request a written quote and the selected model's replacement schedule. PFAS testing arrangements and pricing should be confirmed separately.
Guidance reviewed September 17, 2026. These are source links, not new household test results. See the linked MDH, EPA, and USGS references above and the source information beside each city.
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