The Villages Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.2 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
410.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.42
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 The Villages, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In The Villages | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -35% |
| Water Heater | 9.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -38% |
Regional Water Comparison
How The Villages compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Villages, Florida | 157.5 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Lady Lake, Florida | 301 mg/L | 12 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Leesburg, Florida | 106.5 mg/L | 5.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Marion Oaks, Florida | 279.5 mg/L | 11.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Tavares, Florida | 125.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How The Villages compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ The Villages | 157.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes The Villages's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Villages, Florida, spanning Sumter, Lake, and Marion Counties in north-central Florida — the world's largest retirement community, a meticulously planned golf cart community with over 140,000 residents (making it larger than Atlanta proper), famous for its entertainment squares, golf courses, and the extraordinary lifestyle of active senior living — draws its municipal water supply from the Upper Floridan Aquifer via The Villages Utilities and community development district water authorities. Water hardness in The Villages measures 157.5 mg/L — classified as hard.
The Villages' moderately hard supply — significantly softer than the raw Floridan Aquifer (300–450+ mg/L) in Sumter–Marion County — reflects The Villages' purpose-built utility system's advanced reverse osmosis (RO) treatment. The Villages is one of the most thoroughly planned and equipped communities in Florida, with dedicated water treatment infrastructure designed from the community's founding in the 1980s specifically for the retirement community market's quality expectations. The Villages Utilities operates multiple water treatment plants with significant RO capacity, producing the moderate 157.5 mg/L — far below the raw Floridan Aquifer hardness and substantially below most central Florida communities.
At 157.5 mg/L, The Villages residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. The Villages Utilities consistently delivers water meeting all Florida DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer System (Upper Floridan) via the Sumter Landing Community Development District Water Division and the The Villages Utilities — the Sumter–Marion County central Florida Floridan Aquifer (Eocene Ocala Limestone) calcareous carbonate; hard supply at 157.5 mg/L — reflecting a significant RO treatment fraction in The Villages' purpose-built water utility system.