Plantation Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Plantation, Florida, an affluent city in western Broward County, draws its municipal water supply from the Biscayne Aquifer through the City of Plantation Water Division wellfields in Broward County. Plantation's wells tap the Miami Limestone (oolitic calcarenite), Fort Thompson Formation (freshwater–marine limestone), and Anastasia Formation coquina of the Biscayne Aquifer at depths of 10–75 feet beneath the western Broward coastal plain. Water is treated at the Plantation Water Treatment Plant before distribution. Water hardness reaches 293 mg/L — classified as very hard.

Plantation's very hard supply reflects the dense Biscayne Aquifer carbonate formations in western Broward County. The western Broward zone draws from the Fort Thompson Formation at depth — a series of alternating freshwater and marine limestone beds — which show higher carbonate dissolution equilibration than the surface Miami Limestone horizon alone. The western Broward zone also has somewhat different aquifer thickness and hydrogeologic characteristics compared to coastal Pompano Beach (316.5 mg/L) — the Miami Limestone is thinner here but the Fort Thompson dolomitic limestone contributes significant hardness. Plantation's 293 mg/L is consistent with the very hard range typical of western Broward County Biscayne Aquifer supplies.

At 293 mg/L, Plantation residents face significant hard water challenges. Scale deposits form rapidly on shower glass, tile, chrome, and faucet aerators — monthly descaling with commercial citric acid products is essential. Dishwashers accumulate heavy scale requiring rinse-aid plus periodic cleaning. City of Plantation Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Florida DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.