Cleveland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The Cleveland Utilities Board (CUB) provides drinking water to Cleveland and Bradley County in southeast Tennessee, serving approximately 30,000 customers across both urban and rural communities. Water is sourced primarily from the Tennessee River via the Ocoee River intake, supplemented by local groundwater wells tapping regional carbonate aquifers. Treatment occurs at the Ocoee Water Treatment Plant, which processes river water through coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorine disinfection. The service area spans urban Cleveland and surrounding rural communities throughout Bradley County, with treatment ensuring compliance with federal and state drinking water standards.

The Tennessee River watershed, spanning the Appalachian Valley and Ridge, feeds the supply with water contacting Paleozoic limestone and dolomite formations, including the Ordovician Chickamauga Limestone. Local groundwater aquifers tap karst systems in the Knox Dolomite and similar carbonates, promoting prolonged mineral dissolution. This geology imparts a moderately mineralised to hard character, with elevated calcium and magnesium from carbonate weathering, contrasting the softer water found in upstream granitic mountain sources.

At moderately hard levels, scale buildup affects water heaters, dishwashers, and faucets most, reducing efficiency and lifespan; boilers and coffee makers may clog, increasing energy costs by 20–30%. Monthly vinegar rinses, annual descaling, and low-flow aerators help mitigate issues; a water softener is recommended for households to prevent spotting on glassware and dry skin and hair effects. Cleveland's water meets EPA standards per annual Consumer Confidence Reports, with pH typically 7.2–7.8; lead and copper remain below action levels due to corrosion control; no PFAS exceedances are reported, with occasional iron and manganese from groundwater addressed via filtration.