Highland City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1014 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.82
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 Highland City, your appliances are currently losing 41% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Highland City | 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 Highland City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland City, Florida | 307.5 mg/L | 12.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Lakeland Highlands, Florida | 73.5 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Bartow, Florida | 150.5 mg/L | 7.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Lakeland, Florida | 73 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Auburndale, Florida | 116.5 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Highland City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Highland City | 307.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Highland City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Highland City, Florida, in Polk County — a Polk County unincorporated community adjacent to Bartow and Winter Haven in the heart of the central Florida phosphate mining belt — receives its water from Polk County Utilities, drawing from the deep Floridan Aquifer System through the central Florida distribution.
The extremely hard 307.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,014 mg/L reflect the Polk County deep Floridan supply's extreme calcareous-evaporitic character — the Eocene Avon Park Formation is a highly calcareous dolomite, while the Cretaceous Oldsmar Formation contains gypsum and anhydrite evaporite beds; Polk County's deep Floridan wells penetrate these formations in the phosphate mining zone to produce extremely mineralized water (compare Bartow FL: 301/989 in Polk County comparable; Winter Haven FL: 313/1038 in Polk County comparable; Highland City consistent extremely hard from the same Polk County Floridan Aquifer Eocene evaporitic supply). The Polk County deep Floridan — Eocene Avon Park Formation (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Oldsmar Formation (evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Polk County sand plain (insoluble — minimal dilution).
At 307.5 mg/L with TDS 1,014, Highland City's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 12.2 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review Polk County Utilities' annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Highland City in Polk County draws from the Polk County Utilities on the Floridan Aquifer (Polk County, central Florida) — the Polk County deep Floridan draws from Eocene Avon Park Formation (highly calcareous) and Cretaceous Oldsmar Formation (evaporitic) — Florida Polk County Floridan Aquifer Eocene evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 307.5 mg/L with TDS 1014 mg/L.