Fish Hawk Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
747.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.66
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 Fish Hawk, your appliances are currently losing 33% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fish Hawk | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4.4 yrs | 12 yrs | -63% |
| Water Heater | 5.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -62% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fish Hawk compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fish Hawk, Florida | 247.5 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Bloomingdale, Florida | 300 mg/L | 12 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Valrico, Florida | 272.5 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Brandon, Florida | 95.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Riverview, Florida | 171.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Fish Hawk compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fish Hawk | 247.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fish Hawk's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fish Hawk, Florida, in Hillsborough County — an unincorporated Hillsborough County community adjacent to Lithia and Brandon in the southeast Tampa Bay metro — receives its water from Hillsborough County Water, drawing from the Floridan Aquifer (Hillsborough County) through the southeast Tampa Bay metro distribution.
The very hard 247.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 747.8 mg/L are much harder than the adjacent Gibsonton (120.5 mg/L) — reflecting Fish Hawk's deep Floridan Aquifer draw in the southeast Hillsborough County position where the aquifer is more mineralized at depth, with greater Eocene evaporitic sulfate contributions from deeper in the Floridan system. The Floridan Aquifer at Hillsborough County (Fish Hawk deep draw) — Eocene Avon Park Formation (calcareous and slightly evaporitic — primary hardness and TDS contributor), Oligocene Suwannee Limestone (calcareous), and Eocene Lake City Limestone (highly calcareous — very deep horizon).
At 247.5 mg/L with TDS 747, Fish Hawk's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended, and a reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. Scale builds very rapidly on surfaces and appliances. The PFAS level of 10.3 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — MacDill Air Force Base (Hillsborough County — AFFF) and the Tampa Bay metro industrial corridor contribute to Fish Hawk's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Fish Hawk in Hillsborough County draws from the Hillsborough County Water on the Floridan Aquifer (Hillsborough County, west-central Florida) — the Floridan Aquifer at Hillsborough County is developed in Eocene Avon Park Formation (calcareous) and Oligocene Suwannee Limestone (calcareous) — Florida Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer Eocene-Oligocene calcareous limestone produces very hard water at 247.5 mg/L with TDS 747.8 mg/L.