Brandon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
5.6 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
221.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.25
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 Brandon, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Brandon | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -25% |
| Washing Machine | 10.1 yrs | 12 yrs | -16% |
| Water Heater | 11.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -21% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Brandon compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brandon, Florida | 95.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Valrico, Florida | 272.5 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Bloomingdale, Florida | 300 mg/L | 12 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Riverview, Florida | 171.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida | 90.5 mg/L | 5.4 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Brandon compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brandon | 95.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Brandon's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Brandon, an unincorporated community and the largest urban community in Hillsborough County east of Tampa, draws its municipal water supply from Hillsborough County Water Resources Services, sourcing from the Floridan Aquifer System (Upper Floridan Aquifer) via wellfields in eastern Hillsborough County — including the Lithia Springs area, Brandon wellfield, and other Hillsborough County groundwater production zones. Water hardness in Brandon measures 95.5 mg/L — classified as moderately soft, lower than raw Floridan Aquifer values, reflecting Hillsborough County's extensive water treatment.
Brandon's lower-than-expected hardness for a Floridan Aquifer source reflects Hillsborough County Water Resources' extensive treatment operations. The Upper Floridan Aquifer in Hillsborough County draws from the Avon Park Formation (Middle Eocene dolomite) and Ocala Limestone (Upper Eocene chalk) — both pure carbonate formations that naturally produce hard groundwater. However, Hillsborough County operates one of the most sophisticated regional water treatment systems in Florida, including reverse osmosis (RO) treatment at the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Facility blended with Floridan softened groundwater. The county blends multiple treated sources to achieve lower finished hardness than the raw Floridan source water would produce.
With hardness at 95.5 mg/L, Brandon residents experience light to moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits over several months — bi-monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is sufficient. Dishwashers produce clean glassware with moderate rinse-aid use. Hillsborough County Water Resources Services consistently delivers water meeting all Florida DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer System (Upper Floridan) via Hillsborough County Water Resources Services wellfields in eastern Hillsborough County — the Middle Eocene Avon Park Formation dolomite and Upper Eocene Ocala Limestone of the west-central Florida karst platform; the Tampa Bay area Floridan Aquifer at the Brandon zone produces moderately soft supply at 95.5 mg/L with the county's treatment reducing natural Floridan hardness.