University Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

University, Florida, an unincorporated community in Hillsborough County northeast of Tampa — a major northeast Tampa community surrounding the University of South Florida (USF, a major Florida research university with one of the largest student enrollments in the US), the USF Research Park corridor, Busch Gardens Tampa, and a diverse Hillsborough County community in the northeast Tampa suburban zone — draws its municipal water supply from the Upper Floridan Aquifer via Hillsborough County Public Utilities. Water hardness in University measures 317.5 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.

University–Hillsborough County's extremely hard supply — reflecting limited lime softening treatment in this northeast Hillsborough zone — reflects the highly calcareous raw Floridan Aquifer. The Upper Floridan Aquifer at University–Hillsborough County is hosted in the Eocene Avon Park Formation and Ocala Limestone (highly calcareous dolomite and limestone — the pure marine carbonate sequence of the Florida Platform). The northeast Hillsborough County distribution zone for the University community applies limited softening treatment compared to Tampa proper, resulting in the extremely hard 317.5 mg/L.

At 317.5 mg/L, University residents face severe hard water challenges. Scale deposits form very rapidly on all fixtures and appliances — weekly descaling measures are strongly recommended. Hillsborough County Public Utilities consistently delivers water meeting all Florida DEP and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.