Water Treatment in St. Louis Park, MN

St. Louis Park pumps its own municipal wells at about 19 grains per gallon and does not soften the water — very hard at the tap. A home softener plus filtration and reverse-osmosis drinking water are the honest fix, even in a city already known for advanced treatment. Edina Plumbing sizes the system to your exact water and quotes it upfront, no high-pressure demo.

Licensed & insured in MN
Local to Edina
Upfront, honest pricing

Your St. Louis Park water

19 Grains, Unsoftened City Wells

19 grains per gallon, very hard. The city’s 2024 water report puts hardness at about 19 grains per gallon (330 ppm) — very hard, right in line with neighboring Edina. St. Louis Park pumps its own groundwater and does not soften it centrally, so scale, spotted glassware and stiff laundry are the everyday signs a softener addresses.
Nine municipal wells. The city draws from nine wells across several aquifers. Every home is on this municipal supply, so we assess your specific hardness, iron and chlorine and size the system to it, rather than assuming a citywide number.
City water, not a private well. St. Louis Park homes are on city water throughout. The honest first step is to measure what your tap actually carries, then size the softener and filtration to it — with upfront pricing before you commit to anything.

A city that already treats hard

The Reilly Tar Story & Advanced GAC Treatment

A creosote Superfund site. A former coal-tar and creosote works (the Reilly Tar site) contaminated local groundwater and was placed on the federal Superfund list in 1983. In response the city built two granular activated-carbon (GAC) treatment plants (1985 and 1991) that still clean the water today — a genuinely well-run utility.
Why residents still treat at home. The city’s GAC plants handle the historic contaminants, but they do not soften the water or remove hardness, radium or chlorination byproducts at your tap. EWG flags haloacetic acids at about 48× and radium at about 25× its health guidelines here — reduced by whole-home carbon and reverse osmosis. These are above EWG’s health guidelines, not legal limits.

Granular activated carbon media used to treat water

What actually helps — at an honest price

Softener, Filtration & Reverse Osmosis

A softener for 19-grain hardness. At about 19 grains per gallon, a right-sized softener is what stops the scale, spotting and appliance wear the city’s advanced GAC plants are not designed to touch.
RO and carbon for radium and byproducts. Under-sink reverse osmosis plus whole-home carbon reduce the radium and chlorination byproducts that reach your tap regardless of the city’s treatment.
Honest, upfront pricing. The same NSF-certified softener, filtration and RO systems big dealers quote $8,000–$12,000 for after an in-home demo, priced plainly upfront. If a stage isn’t needed for your water, we leave it out — no pressure, no obligation.

A licensed technician installing a water treatment system in a St. Louis Park home

What's in the water · St. Louis Park, MN

What's Actually in St. Louis Park's Water

St. Louis Park's water is very hard — and it carries PFAS and other contaminants the EWG Tap Water Database flags above its health guidelines. Here's what's in it, what each is linked to, and what removes it at home.

Above EWG guideline Contaminant & what it's linked to Reduced by

48× Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct Long-term exposure associated with higher bladder-cancer risk (IARC 2B). Reduced by Carbon + RO
35× PFHxS PFAS Associated with thyroid, immune and cholesterol effects (ATSDR). Reduced by RO + carbon
25× Radium Radiological Radioactive; associated with bone cancer at high, long-term exposure (ATSDR). Reduced by RO + softening
9× Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection byproduct Long-term exposure associated with higher bladder-cancer risk (IARC 2B). Reduced by Carbon + RO

Premium quality. Honest price.

Cleaner water for your home, at an honest, upfront price.

Get your upfront quote

Upfront pricing · No in-home demo · No obligation

Straight answers

Water Treatment in St. Louis Park — Common Questions

Is St. Louis Park water hard?

Yes. The city’s 2024 water report lists hardness at about 19 grains per gallon (330 ppm), which the U.S. Geological Survey classifies as very hard — in line with neighboring Edina. Because St. Louis Park pumps its own wells and does not soften centrally, that hardness reaches your tap directly, leaving scale and spotting. A home softener sized to your measured hardness is the standard fix.

Does the city soften the water?

No. St. Louis Park treats its groundwater — including at two granular activated-carbon plants built after the Reilly Tar Superfund cleanup — but it does not soften the water, so it arrives very hard at about 19 grains per gallon. The city’s advanced treatment handles historic contaminants; a home softener handles the hardness those plants are not designed to remove.

What is the Reilly Tar site, and does it affect my water?

Reilly Tar was a former coal-tar and creosote operation whose contamination put the area on the federal Superfund list in 1983. The city responded by building two granular activated-carbon treatment plants that clean the water today, and the supply is in full federal compliance. Many residents still add home filtration and RO to reduce hardness, radium and chlorination byproducts by choice.

Do I need a softener, a filter, or both?

It depends on your water. A softener removes the hardness minerals behind scale and spotting; whole-home carbon improves taste and reduces chlorination byproducts; an under-sink RO system polishes drinking water for radium, PFAS and byproducts. Many St. Louis Park homes benefit from all three, but we quote only what your measured water actually needs — nothing extra.

Do you serve all of St. Louis Park?

Edina Plumbing serves homes throughout St. Louis Park, from the neighborhoods near Cedar Lake to the western edge by Minnetonka, and we are based right next door in Edina. When you book your water quality review we confirm your address is within the service area before scheduling, so your appointment is set the moment you choose a time.

Service Area

Serving St. Louis Park from Next-Door Edina

Edina Plumbing installs water softeners, whole-home filtration and reverse-osmosis systems across St. Louis Park and neighboring Edina and Minneapolis. See the whole southwest metro, or book your water quality review to see your exact numbers and an upfront quote.

Call Get a Quote