Palm Valley Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
10.2 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
466.6 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.46
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 Palm Valley, your appliances are currently losing 23% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Palm Valley | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -54% |
| Washing Machine | 7.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -40% |
| Water Heater | 8.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -43% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Palm Valley compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Palm Valley, Florida | 174 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | 321 mg/L | 12.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Jacksonville Beach, Florida | 190.5 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Atlantic Beach, Florida | 113 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| St. Johns, Florida | 136 mg/L | 6.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Palm Valley compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Palm Valley | 174 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Palm Valley's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Palm Valley, Florida, in Saint Johns County — an unincorporated St. Johns County community in the Ponte Vedra corridor along the Intracoastal Waterway between Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach, an affluent coastal residential community — receives its municipal water from JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority) or Saint Johns County Water, which draws from the Upper Floridan Aquifer through production wells in the St. Johns County northeast Florida corridor.
The moderately hard 174 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 466.6 mg/L reflect the Floridan Aquifer's Eocene carbonate geology in St. Johns County. The Floridan Aquifer System in St. Johns County accesses the Eocene Avon Park Formation (dolomite) and the Ocala Limestone (Eocene chalky carbonate). The elevated TDS (467 mg/L) suggests some contribution from the Hawthorn Formation (Miocene phosphatic carbonate and clay) or deeper saline water mixing in this coastal zone near the St. Johns River estuary and Intracoastal Waterway — a pattern consistent with coastal Florida Floridan Aquifer supplies that can have elevated chloride and sulfate alongside carbonate hardness.
At 174 mg/L, Palm Valley's water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.0 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Naval Air Station Jacksonville (a major naval aviation AFFF user in the Duval County-St. Johns County corridor), the Jacksonville military-industrial complex, and the northeastern Florida defense corridor contribute to Palm Valley's PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Palm Valley in Saint Johns County draws from the JEA or Saint Johns County Water on the Upper Floridan Aquifer — the Floridan Aquifer in St. Johns County accesses Eocene Avon Park Formation dolomite and Ocala Limestone beneath the northeast Florida coastal plain — Eocene carbonate platform aquifer produces moderately hard water at 174 mg/L with elevated TDS 467 mg/L in this Saint Johns County Florida community.