Cleveland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
9.1 grains per gallon
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
314.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.41
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 Cleveland, your appliances are currently losing 21% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cleveland | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -47% |
| Washing Machine | 7.9 yrs | 12 yrs | -34% |
| Water Heater | 9.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -37% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cleveland compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cleveland, Tennessee | 155 mg/L | 5.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Middle Valley, Tennessee | 98 mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
| East Brainerd, Tennessee | 195.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee | 202 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| East Chattanooga, Tennessee | 195.5 mg/L | 6.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Cleveland compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cleveland | 155 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Cleveland home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Cleveland's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cleveland, Tennessee, the Bradley County seat in southeast Tennessee — a major southeast Tennessee industrial and commercial city, home of the Church of God (international headquarters of the Pentecostal Church of God, one of the world's largest Pentecostal denominations), a growing Cherokee–Copper Basin corridor industrial city with significant automotive parts, textile, and manufacturing industries, and gateway to the Cherokee National Forest and Ocoee Whitewater Center (1996 Olympic kayaking venue) — draws its municipal water supply from the Ocoee River (Parksville Lake) via the Cleveland Utilities Water Division. Water hardness in Cleveland measures 155 mg/L — classified as hard.
Cleveland's hard supply reflects the Bradley County Tennessee Valley and Ridge calcareous dolomite geology. The Ocoee River above Parksville Lake drains the Bradley–Polk County Valley and Ridge — the Tennessee carbonate belt including: Ordovician Knox Group dolomite (massively calcareous dolomite, the dominant calcareous formation of the Valley and Ridge Province in Tennessee); Cambrian Conasauga Group limestone (calcareous marine limestone of the Tennessee Cambrian carbonate platform); and Ordovician–Cambrian Copper Ridge Dolomite (highly calcareous dolomite of the Appalachian Valley carbonate sequence). The Knox Group and Conasauga calcareous dolomite dissolution produce the hard 155 mg/L at Cleveland.
At 155 mg/L, Cleveland residents face regular hard water challenges. Scale deposits form on faucet aerators, showerheads, and appliances within weeks — monthly descaling with citric acid solution is standard maintenance. Cleveland Utilities Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Tennessee TDEC and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Reservoir supply from the Ocoee River (Parksville Lake, TN) watershed via the Cleveland Utilities Water Division — the Bradley County Tennessee River Valley and Ridge (Ordovician–Cambrian calcareous dolomite and limestone of the Valley and Ridge Province — the Tennessee carbonate belt); moderately hard supply at 155 mg/L — reflecting the Bradley County calcareous Valley and Ridge terrain.