Southchase Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
794 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.69
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 Southchase, your appliances are currently losing 34% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Southchase | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4 yrs | 12 yrs | -67% |
| Water Heater | 5.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -65% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Southchase compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Southchase, Florida | 258.5 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Meadow Woods, Florida | 323 mg/L | 12.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Hunters Creek, Florida | 129.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Buenaventura Lakes, Florida | 147 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Oak Ridge, Florida | 71.5 mg/L | 4.8 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Southchase compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Southchase | 258.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Southchase's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Southchase, Florida, in Orange County — an unincorporated Orange County community adjacent to Orlando and Hunters Creek in the south Orlando metro — receives its municipal water from Orange County Utilities, drawing from the Upper Floridan Aquifer (Orange County) through the Orange County reverse osmosis treatment plants.
The very hard 258.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 794 mg/L reflect the south Orlando Floridan Aquifer's intensely evaporitic deep carbonate character — consistent with other south Orlando metro communities on the Upper Floridan. The Upper Floridan Aquifer at Orange County is developed in Eocene Ocala Limestone (high purity carbonate), Eocene Avon Park Formation (dolomite — calcareous), and Paleocene Cedar Keys Formation (evaporitic dolomite-anhydrite — the major TDS contributor from the deep evaporitic zone). The deep Cedar Keys evaporitic loading dramatically elevates both hardness and TDS above the shallower Floridan communities.
At 258.5 mg/L with TDS 794, Southchase's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 10.7 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Naval Air Station Sanford (Seminole County — AFFF legacy, migrating into the south Orange County Floridan Aquifer) and the Orlando metro PFAS industrial complex contribute to Southchase's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Southchase in Orange County draws from Orange County Utilities on the Upper Floridan Aquifer (Orange County, south Orlando metro) — the Upper Floridan at Orange County is developed in Eocene Ocala Limestone and Paleocene Cedar Keys Formation (evaporitic carbonate — highly mineralized) — Florida Orange County Upper Floridan deep evaporitic aquifer produces very hard water at 258.5 mg/L with TDS 794 mg/L in this Orange County Florida community.