How does Cordele's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cordele (146.5 mg/L) is 4 mg/L softer than average.

Cordele Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

146.5mg/L

Hard

8.6 grains per gallon

Source

groundwater

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

99 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.39

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

146.5mg/L as CaCO₃Hard

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 Cordele, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Cordele	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Cordele compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Cordele, Georgia	146.5 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Americus, Georgia	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Perry, Georgia	≈ 0–60 mg/L	0 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Albany, Georgia	≈ 0–60 mg/L	20.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	groundwater
Tifton, Georgia	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Cordele compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Cordele	146.5 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Cordele's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: GroundwaterTDS: 99 mg/LpH: 7.5

Cordele, Georgia, in Crisp County — the Crisp County seat adjacent to Americus and Vienna on the Flint River in south-central Georgia — receives its water from the City of Cordele Water Department, drawing from the Flint River and Lake Blackshear reservoir through the south-central Georgia distribution.

The hard 146.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 370.7 mg/L reflect the Crisp County Flint River supply's hard calcareous character — the Cretaceous Georgia Coastal Plain limestone and Quaternary Flint River alluvium contribute calcareous mineral content from the south Georgia limestone terrain (compare Americus GA: 143/362 in Sumter County comparable; Vienna GA: 149/379 in Dooly County comparable; Cordele consistent hard from the same Crisp County Flint River Cretaceous calcareous supply). The Flint watershed at Crisp County — Cretaceous Georgia Coastal Plain limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Quaternary Flint River alluvium (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Holocene Flint River floodplain (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).

At 146.5 mg/L with TDS 371, Cordele's water is hard — scale builds in appliances. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 8.7 ppt is elevated — a certified drinking water filter with PFAS removal is recommended. Review the City of Cordele's annual water quality report.

Geology & Source: Cordele in Crisp County draws from the Cordele Water on the Flint River supply (Crisp County, south-central Georgia) — the Flint watershed at Crisp County drains Cretaceous Georgia Coastal Plain (calcareous) and Quaternary Flint River alluvium (calcareous) — Georgia Crisp County Flint River Cretaceous calcareous supply produces hard water at 146.5 mg/L with TDS 370.7 mg/L.

Other Georgia Water Reports

Americus

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Perry

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Albany

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Tifton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cordele's water safe to drink?

Yes. Cordele's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 146.5 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Cordele?

At 146.5 mg/L (Hard), Cordele's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Cordele compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Cordele (146.5 mg/L) is 4 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Cordele is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.