Plant City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
17.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
942.2 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 Plant City, your appliances are currently losing 39% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Plant 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 Plant City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Plant City, Florida | 292 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Valrico, Florida | 272.5 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Lakeland, Florida | 73 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Bloomingdale, Florida | 300 mg/L | 12 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Brandon, Florida | 95.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Plant City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Plant City | 292 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Plant City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Plant City, Florida, in Hillsborough County — the 'Winter Strawberry Capital of the World' (Plant City hosts the Florida Strawberry Festival — one of the largest annual festivals in the southeastern United States, drawing 500,000+ visitors annually), a historic railroad and agricultural city east of Tampa, home of one of the highest concentrations of strawberry production in the United States (the east Hillsborough County Plant City area produces the majority of US winter strawberries), and a diverse Hillsborough County agricultural community — draws its municipal water supply from the Upper Floridan Aquifer via the City of Plant City Water Division. Water hardness in Plant City measures 292 mg/L — classified as very hard.
Plant City's very hard supply reflects the east Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer's highly calcareous limestone geology with limited treatment. The Upper Floridan Aquifer at Plant City–east Hillsborough County is hosted in: the Eocene Ocala Limestone (highly calcareous marine limestone); the Eocene Suwannee Limestone (highly calcareous limestone — primary host of the east Hillsborough Floridan Aquifer); and the Oligocene Tampa Formation (calcareous-moderate). City of Plant City applies limited lime softening, producing the very hard 292 mg/L — among the hardest supplies in Hillsborough County.
At 292 mg/L, Plant City residents face severe hard water challenges. Weekly descaling and appliance protection measures are strongly recommended. City of Plant City Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Florida DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer System (Upper Floridan Aquifer) via the City of Plant City Water Division — the Hillsborough County east Florida strawberry belt (Eocene Ocala Limestone and Suwannee Limestone — the highly calcareous east Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer; limited lime softening in the Plant City zone); very hard supply at 292 mg/L — reflecting the extreme Floridan Aquifer calcareous limestone geology with limited treatment.