Southchase Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Toho Water Authority supplies water to Southchase, an unincorporated community in Orange County near Orlando. This utility draws exclusively from the Floridan aquifer, utilizing wellfields like the Poinciana Wellfield and Moss Park Wellfield. Treated at facilities such as the Water Production Plant in Kissimmee, the water undergoes essential processes like disinfection, fluoridation, and filtration before reaching more than 200,000 customers across Osceola and parts of Orange Counties. The primary source watershed for Southchase's supply is the Upper Floridan aquifer portion of this extensive system, replenished by rainfall across central Florida.

The underlying geology features thick sequences of Tertiary limestone formations, including the Ocala Limestone and Suwannee Limestone. These highly permeable rocks, riddled with karst features like sinkholes and caverns, directly influence the water's composition. As rainwater percolates through this carbonate-rich matrix, it dissolves minerals, leading to elevated concentrations of calcium and magnesium. This natural process, characteristic of the Floridan aquifer system, imparts a distinctly hard quality to the groundwater.

This very hard water can lead to significant scale buildup in appliances such as pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, ultimately reducing their efficiency and lifespan. Homeowners might notice soap scum in showers, stiff laundry, and easily spotted fixtures. Regular descaling of appliances with vinegar, installing low-flow aerators, and using rinse agents in dishwashers are helpful maintenance practices. For those experiencing very hard supplies, a whole-home water softener is strongly recommended to prevent damage and improve usability, though this will increase sodium levels in the water. Toho Water Authority's water meets all EPA standards, with typical pH between 7.2-7.8 and full compliance on the lead and copper rule.