Savannah Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Savannah, Georgia draws its municipal water supply from the City of Savannah Water Resources Division, sourcing from the Abercorn Creek Reservoir — a local impoundment fed by Abercorn Creek, a tributary of the Savannah River — and from direct Savannah River intakes in Chatham County. The Savannah River originates in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina, flowing southeast across the Georgia Piedmont and Coastal Plain to its estuary at Savannah. Raw water is treated at the Industrial and Domestic (I&D) Water Treatment Facility before distribution throughout the Savannah metropolitan area. Water hardness measures 102.5 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.

Savannah's moderate hardness reflects the blended geological character of the Savannah River watershed. The upper Savannah basin drains the southern Blue Ridge Mountains — ancient Precambrian to Cambrian metamorphic and igneous rocks including granite gneiss, amphibolite, and schist — that contribute minimal dissolved calcium. As the river crosses the Georgia Piedmont, it picks up additional minerals from weathering of Cambrian to Cretaceous metamorphic and granitic basement before entering the coastal plain. The lower Savannah reaches into Cretaceous and Tertiary coastal plain sediments (including calcareous formations), which contribute modest additional mineral content, resulting in a moderate hardness level.

With hardness at 102.5 mg/L, Savannah residents encounter light to moderate scale accumulation over time. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — bi-monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is sufficient maintenance. Dishwashers benefit from rinse-aid for the clearest glassware results. Water heaters accumulate modest scale and benefit from periodic inspection. The City of Savannah Water Resources Division consistently delivers water meeting all Georgia EPD and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.