Cheval Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
17.2 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
950.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.78
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 Cheval, your appliances are currently losing 39% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cheval | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cheval compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cheval, Florida | 294 mg/L | 11.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Greater Northdale, Florida | 277.5 mg/L | 11.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Lutz, Florida | 234 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Northdale, Florida | 187.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Carrollwood Village, Florida | 232.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Cheval compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cheval | 294 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Cheval home
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What Makes Cheval's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cheval, Florida, in Hillsborough County — a Hillsborough County unincorporated community adjacent to Lutz and Tampa in the north Tampa Bay area — receives its water from Hillsborough County Utilities, drawing from the deep Floridan Aquifer System through the west-central Florida distribution.
The very hard 294 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 950.9 mg/L reflect the Hillsborough County deep Floridan supply's very hard calcareous-evaporitic character — the Eocene Avon Park Formation is a highly calcareous dolomite, while the Cretaceous Cedar Keys Formation contains gypsum and anhydrite evaporite beds that concentrate dissolved minerals in the deep Hillsborough County wells (compare Lutz FL: 290/939 in Hillsborough County comparable; Tampa FL: 297/962 in Hillsborough County comparable; Cheval consistent very hard from the same Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer Eocene evaporitic supply). The Deep Hillsborough County Floridan — Eocene Avon Park Formation (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Cedar Keys Formation (evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary West Florida sand plain (insoluble — minimal dilution).
At 294 mg/L with TDS 951, Cheval's water is very hard — a water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing and appliances. The PFAS level of 11.8 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review Hillsborough County Utilities' annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Cheval in Hillsborough County draws from the Hillsborough County Utilities on the Floridan Aquifer (Hillsborough County, west-central Florida) — the deep Hillsborough County Floridan draws from Eocene Avon Park Formation (highly calcareous) and Cretaceous Cedar Keys Formation (evaporitic) — Florida Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer Eocene evaporitic supply produces very hard water at 294 mg/L with TDS 950.9 mg/L.