Hardness
Soft
58.1 PPM · 3.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Tampa, FL 33605
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Hillsborough County.
2 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- City Of Tampa Water Department
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Hillsborough County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
2 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0015 mg/L
10% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 733,886 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
58.1 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
58.1
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
3.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 58.1 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
2
Nearest site
35.6 mi
Observation range
Jun 1, 2016–Aug 12, 2025
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: MANATEE RIVER AT SR 64 NEAR MYAKKA HEAD, FL (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 33605 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Tampa median
58 PPM
About the same14 indexed ZIP readings · Range 58.1–58.1 PPM
Florida median
280 PPM
222 PPM lower602 indexed ZIP readings · Range 20–374.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0015 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2025
Copper (CU90)
3.05 mg/L
Reported Dec 1, 2024
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0015
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 3.05
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 56
- Health-based
- 2
- Active health-based
- 2
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. COLI | FL6290607 | Archived | Mar 1, 2026through Mar 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6290607 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6290607 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6290607 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| E. COLI | FL6291483 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6291483 | Resolved | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6296177 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6296177 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6291882 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6296039 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6296039 | Resolved | Aug 1, 2025through Aug 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6296177 | Archived | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | FL6296139 | Archived | Jun 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Nitrate | FL6296139 | Archived | Apr 1, 2025through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Public Notice | FL6296199 | Resolved | Mar 24, 2025through Oct 3, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | FL6296177 | Unaddressed | Feb 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | FL6296177 | Unaddressed | Feb 1, 2025 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSHealth-based | FL6296139 | Unaddressed | Feb 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | FL6296199 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Oct 3, 2025 |
| E. COLI | FL6291341 | Archived | Aug 1, 2024through Aug 31, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Tampa ZIP 33605 using 58.1 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Tampa
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Tampa
Is tap water safe in Tampa?+
EPA ECHO reports 2 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 58.1 PPM, or 3.4 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.