Ruskin Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
13.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
656.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.60
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 Ruskin, your appliances are currently losing 30% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ruskin | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -74% |
| Washing Machine | 5.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -56% |
| Water Heater | 6.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -56% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ruskin compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ruskin, Florida | 225 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Apollo Beach, Florida | 93.5 mg/L | 5.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Sun City Center, Florida | 71 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Gibsonton, Florida | 120.5 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Riverview, Florida | 171.5 mg/L | 8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Ruskin compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ruskin | 225 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ruskin's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Ruskin, Florida, in Hillsborough County — an unincorporated Hillsborough County community adjacent to Sun City Center and Apollo Beach on Tampa Bay in the south Hillsborough County corridor — receives its municipal water from Hillsborough County Utilities, drawing from the Floridan Aquifer through production wells in south Hillsborough County.
The very hard 225 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 656.4 mg/L reflect the south Hillsborough County Floridan Aquifer's intense carbonate character — comparable to Safety Harbor (236 mg/L) and other Tampa Bay area Floridan supplies. The Floridan Aquifer at Hillsborough County is developed in the Eocene Avon Park Formation (dolomitic limestone — high dissolved calcium-magnesium) and Eocene Ocala Limestone (high-purity carbonate platform), producing the very hard water characteristic of all Tampa Bay-Gulf Coast communities.
At 225 mg/L, Ruskin's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all heating surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 9.6 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — MacDill Air Force Base (Hillsborough County — AFFF, the dominant Tampa Bay area PFAS source), the Hillsborough County industrial waterfront, and the Tampa Bay metro PFAS complex contribute to Ruskin's very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Ruskin in Hillsborough County draws from Hillsborough County Utilities on the Floridan Aquifer (Hillsborough County, Florida) — the Floridan at Hillsborough is developed in Eocene Avon Park Formation and Eocene Ocala Limestone (carbonate) — Florida Hillsborough County Eocene Floridan Aquifer produces very hard water at 225 mg/L with TDS 656.4 mg/L in this Hillsborough County community.