Palm River-Clair Mel Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida, in Hillsborough County — an unincorporated Hillsborough County community in east Tampa adjacent to the Palm River and McKay Bay, an industrial and residential corridor east of downtown Tampa — receives its municipal water from Tampa Bay Water or the Hillsborough County Water Resources Department, which draws from the Floridan Aquifer or the Hillsborough River through the regional Tampa Bay Water supply and treatment system.

The moderately soft 90.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 207.9 mg/L reflect Hillsborough County's Floridan Aquifer supply character. The Floridan Aquifer in Hillsborough County accesses the Eocene Avon Park Formation and the Ocala Limestone — ancient Eocene carbonate formations forming the primary aquifer throughout central Florida. The Hillsborough County Floridan system is accessed at relatively shallow depths where water is in the less-confined upper Floridan horizon, producing moderately hard rather than very hard water. Tampa Bay Water's regional supply also blends Hillsborough River surface water (treated at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility), which adds a surface water component that moderates overall hardness. The blend produces consistently moderately soft finished water across the east Tampa distribution zone.

At 90.5 mg/L, Palm River-Clair Mel's water is moderately soft — comfortable for household use. Scale builds slowly over months, soap lathers well, and appliances operate efficiently. Semi-annual descaling is adequate. The PFAS level of 5.4 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa — the US Central Command HQ and a significant AFFF user) adjacent to Hillsborough Bay, the Tampa-Hillsborough industrial corridor's chemical and petroleum history, and the greater Tampa Bay military-aviation complex contribute to the east Tampa PFAS reading.