Florence Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
326.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.37
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Florence, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Florence | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -41% |
| Washing Machine | 8.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -30% |
| Water Heater | 10 yrs | 15 yrs | -33% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Florence compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Florence, Alabama | 139.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| East Florence, Alabama | 132.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Muscle Shoals, Alabama | 42.5 mg/L | 3.4 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
| Athens, Alabama | 91 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Decatur, Alabama | 56 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Florence compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Florence | 139.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Florence's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Florence, Alabama, the Lauderdale County seat — a major northwest Alabama Tennessee Valley city (the Shoals area on Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River), birthplace of W.C. Handy (William Christopher Handy, the 'Father of the Blues' — born in Florence in 1873, developer of the first published blues music), home of the University of North Alabama (one of the oldest universities in Alabama, founded 1830), and the Muscle Shoals music legacy community (the famous Muscle Shoals Sound — a major recording center for rhythm and blues, soul, and rock music in the 1960s–1970s) — draws its municipal water supply from Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River via the Florence Water Works. Water hardness in Florence measures 139.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Florence's moderate hardness reflects the Tennessee River Lauderdale County watershed's calcareous geology and the Wilson Lake reservoir characteristics. The Tennessee River at Wilson Lake (impounded by Wilson Dam, 1924) drains: the Highland Rim and Tennessee Valley (Ordovician Knox Dolomite — highly calcareous dolomite of the Tennessee Valley Paleozoic section); Mississippian Tuscumbia Limestone and Fort Payne Chert (highly calcareous carbonate); and the Appalachian thrust belt carbonates. Florence Water Works treatment of Wilson Lake produces the moderate 139.5 mg/L.
At 139.5 mg/L, Florence residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is recommended. Florence Water Works consistently delivers water meeting all Alabama ADEM and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Tennessee River (Wilson Lake) via the Florence Water Works — the Lauderdale County northwest Alabama Tennessee River Valley (Ordovician calcareous Knox Dolomite and Mississippian Tuscumbia Limestone — the highly calcareous Tennessee Valley Paleozoic carbonate sequence); moderately hard supply at 139.5 mg/L in Lauderdale County.