Cordova Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) provides water services to Cordova, Tennessee, an unincorporated community in Shelby County within the Memphis metropolitan area. The supply is sourced exclusively from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, a vast groundwater reservoir containing ancient rainwater filtered through sand and gravel. Water is extracted via wells and treated at MLGW's multiple purification facilities, including the Sheahan and E.W. Crump plants, serving over 400,000 customers across Shelby County.

The Memphis Aquifer spans the Mississippi Embayment, recharged by rainfall percolating through overlying Pleistocene terrace deposits and upland gravels into Eocene sands of the Cockfield Formation. Lacking extensive limestone or dolomitic rocks, the aquifer's quartz-rich sands and clays prevent substantial mineral dissolution, yielding very soft water. This geology contrasts with Tennessee's eastern karst regions, where carbonate dissolution creates harder supplies; here, natural filtration through inert sediments maintains low mineralization.

With soft water, scale buildup is negligible, sparing water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines from mineral deposits. Soap lathers easily, reducing usage and preventing dry skin or soap scum; no softener is needed. Instead, monitor for potential corrosivity that could leach pipe metals, and keep routine maintenance focused on leak checks rather than descaling. MLGW reports consistent compliance with EPA standards — pH typically 7.5–8.5, lead and copper rules met via corrosion control, and PFAS levels low or non-detect due to the protected aquifer. Treatment involves chlorine disinfection, aeration, and fluoridation.