St. Marys Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.3 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.2
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
420.3 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 St. Marys, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In St. Marys | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -48% |
| Washing Machine | 7.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -36% |
| Water Heater | 9.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -39% |
Regional Water Comparison
How St. Marys compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ St. Marys, Georgia | 159 mg/L | 9.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Fernandina Beach, Florida | 205 mg/L | 9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Kingsland, Georgia | 123.5 mg/L | 6.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Jacksonville, Florida | 190.5 mg/L | 8.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Atlantic Beach, Florida | 113 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How St. Marys compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ St. Marys | 159 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes St. Marys's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
St. Marys, Georgia, in Camden County — a Camden County city adjacent to Kingsland and Fernandina Beach, FL at the mouth of the St. Marys River on the Georgia-Florida coastal border, home of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay — receives its municipal water from the St. Marys Water Division, drawing from the St. Marys River (Camden County) or the Floridan Aquifer through the St. Marys treatment plant.
The moderately hard 159 mg/L hardness and TDS of 420.3 mg/L reflect the South Georgia-North Florida coastal Eocene-Miocene carbonate character. The St. Marys River drains the Okefenokee Swamp (blackwater, slightly calcareous) and the Georgia-Florida Coastal Plain — Eocene Ocala Limestone (high-purity carbonate platform), Miocene Hawthorn Group (phosphatic dolomite — elevated dissolved solids and fluoride). The Eocene Ocala and Miocene Hawthorn carbonate upwelling produces the moderately hard, elevated-TDS water.
At 159 mg/L, St. Marys' water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and bathroom fixtures develop calcium deposits. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 9.2 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (Camden County — major US Navy AFFF user, adjacent to the city), and the Camden County Georgia coastal PFAS complex contribute to St. Marys' very elevated readings.
Geology & Source: St. Marys in Camden County draws from the St. Marys Water Division on the St. Marys River (Camden County, Georgia-Florida border) — the St. Marys drains the Georgia Coastal Plain (Eocene Ocala Limestone, Miocene Hawthorn Group calcareous) and the Okefenokee Swamp — Georgia Camden County Eocene-Miocene carbonate drainage produces moderately hard water at 159 mg/L with TDS 420.3 mg/L in this Camden County Georgia city.