Five Forks Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.2 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.9
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
285.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.33
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 Five Forks, your appliances are currently losing 16% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Five Forks | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -35% |
| Washing Machine | 9 yrs | 12 yrs | -25% |
| Water Heater | 10.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -29% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Five Forks compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Five Forks, South Carolina | 123 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Simpsonville, South Carolina | 92.5 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Mauldin, South Carolina | 129.5 mg/L | 7.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Taylors, South Carolina | 89 mg/L | 5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| Greer, South Carolina | 100.5 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Five Forks compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Five Forks | 123 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Five Forks's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Five Forks, South Carolina, in Greenville County — a fast-growing Greenville County community adjacent to Simpsonville and Mauldin in the east Greenville metro — receives its water from the Greenville Water System, drawing from the North Saluda Reservoir (Greenville County) through the Upstate South Carolina distribution.
The moderately hard 123 mg/L hardness and TDS of 285.7 mg/L are slightly harder than the adjacent Gantt community (58 mg/L) — reflecting Five Forks' distribution position further from the pure Blue Ridge granite reservoir and potentially receiving additional calcareous input from the Tallulah Falls Formation saprolite dissolution in the extended Greenville metro distribution network. The Greenville County reservoir watershed drains the Blue Ridge Escarpment — Precambrian Grenville Gneiss (insoluble), Precambrian Tallulah Falls Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), and Quaternary residual saprolite (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor).
At 123 mg/L, Five Forks' water is moderately hard — scale builds in kettles and appliances over months, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and faucet aerators need periodic cleaning. Quarterly descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 6.9 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — Donaldson Center Airport (Greenville County — former AFFF) and the Upstate South Carolina manufacturing corridor contribute to Five Forks' readings.
Geology & Source: Five Forks in Greenville County draws from the Greenville Water System on North Saluda Reservoir (Greenville County, northwest South Carolina Upstate) — the watershed drains the Blue Ridge Escarpment (Precambrian Grenville Gneiss — insoluble) with minor Quaternary residual saprolite (slightly calcareous) — South Carolina Greenville County Blue Ridge Precambrian crystalline reservoir produces moderately hard water at 123 mg/L with TDS 285.7 mg/L.