Water Hardness in Tennessee Cities

Water Hardness in Tennessee Cities

Water hardness in Tennessee, characterized by the amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can significantly differ throughout the state due to its varied geological landscapes. Located in the southeastern region of the U.S., Tennessee’s water hardness levels mirror its array of geological features.

Across Tennessee, water hardness can range from moderately soft to significantly hard, depending on the geology of the area and the source of the water supply. For example, areas situated over the Eastern Highland Rim aquifer may have softer water, attributed to the rapid movement of water through less mineral-rich sediments. On the other hand, regions with harder water typically lie beneath limestone and other mineral-laden formations like those found in the Cumberland Plateau, resulting in higher concentrations of dissolved minerals.

The variation in water hardness throughout Tennessee influences not only the taste and aesthetics of the water but also the efficiency of soaps and detergents, plumbing maintenance, and the longevity of appliances that use water. Given the state’s considerable geological diversity, water hardness is not consistent, highlighting the need for localized water treatment solutions and ongoing monitoring of water quality.

In this data the water hardness levels show substantial variations in different cities across Tennessee, USA. Among the cities for which data is reported, the highest water hardness level is recorded in Franklin with a hardness ppm of 135.0 and a hardness gpg of 7.9. On the other hand, the city with the lowest recorded water hardness level is McMinnville, reporting a hardness ppm of 26.0 and a hardness gpg of 1.5.

City Hardness ppm (mg/L) Hardness gpg Information Source Notes
Nashville 94.0 5.5 Link
Memphis 48.0 2.8 Link
Knoxville n/a n/a Link
Chattanooga 76.0 4.4 Link
Clarksville n/a n/a Link
Murfreesboro 84.0 4.9 Link Monitors and posts regular updates for hardness on Facebook
Franklin 135.0 7.9 Link Lists two values, took average since they’re blended together
Johnson City n/a n/a Link
Jackson 57.0 3.3 Link Memphis Sands Aquifer
Hendersonville n/a n/a Link
Bartlett 38.8 2.3 Link
Kingsport n/a n/a Link
Smyrna 90.0 5.3 Link Treatment plant softens city’s water
Spring Hill n/a n/a Link
Collierville n/a n/a Link
Cleveland n/a n/a Link
Gallatin n/a n/a Link
Brentwood 96.0 5.6 Link
Columbia n/a n/a Link
Germantown n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Lebanon n/a n/a Link
Mount Juliet n/a n/a Link
La Vergne 65.0 3.8 Link
Cookeville 74.5 4.4 Link
Maryville 30.0 1.8 Link Classifies itself as “soft” using USGS range (0-60ppm). Took the median of that.
Oak Ridge n/a n/a Link
Morristown n/a n/a Link
Bristol n/a n/a Link
Farragut n/a n/a Link
Shelbyville n/a n/a Link Duck River
East Ridge 76.0 4.4 Link Zip lookup
Tullahoma n/a n/a Link No online CCR
Springfield n/a n/a Link
Sevierville n/a n/a Link CCR linked on town website gives a 404 Error
Goodlettsville n/a n/a Link No water CCR. Is a suburb of Nashville, may be covered by their water utility
Dickson n/a n/a Link
Dyersburg n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Greeneville n/a n/a Link
Nolensville 92.0 5.4 Link Blend of Smyrna and Nashville water
Arlington n/a n/a Link No online CCR, nothing in EPA CCR search, may be covered by Memphis
Athens n/a n/a Link
Elizabethton n/a n/a Link
McMinnville 26.0 1.5 Link
Lakeland n/a n/a Link No online CCR, nothing in EPA CCR search, may be covered by Memphis
White House n/a n/a Link
Portland n/a n/a Link
Soddy-Daisy n/a n/a Link
Manchester n/a n/a Link
Lewisburg n/a n/a Link Duck River
Crossville 30.0 1.8 Link Sells to South Cumberland and Grandview
Hartsville/Trousdale County n/a n/a Link
Red Bank 76.0 4.4 Link Zip lookup
Lawrenceburg n/a n/a Link
Collegedale 76.0 4.4 Link Zip lookup
Alcoa n/a n/a Link
Union City n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Martin n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Millington n/a n/a Link
Lenoir City n/a n/a Link
Paris n/a n/a Link
Atoka 57.0 3.3 Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Clinton n/a n/a Link
Fairview n/a n/a Link Town doesn’t have online presence. Nothing in EPA CCR search.
Brownsville n/a n/a Link
Winchester n/a n/a Link
Oakland n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Signal Mountain 75.0 4.4 Link
Covington n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Jefferson City n/a n/a Link
Pulaski n/a n/a Link
Milan n/a n/a Link
Thompson’s Station 100.0 5.8 Link
Lexington n/a n/a Link
Humboldt n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Ripley n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
La Follette n/a n/a Link
Savannah n/a n/a Link
Dayton n/a n/a Link
Church Hill n/a n/a Link
Fayetteville n/a n/a Link
Greenbrier n/a n/a Link Purchases from Springfield
Newport n/a n/a Link
Lynchburg, Moore County n/a n/a Link
Munford n/a n/a Link Memphis Sand Aquifer
Pigeon Forge n/a n/a Link
Sweetwater n/a n/a Link
Henderson n/a n/a Link
Millersville n/a n/a Link Per city website, takes WHUD water (https://www.cityofmillersville.com/department/index.php?structureid=24)
Loudon n/a n/a Link
Kingston n/a n/a Link
Erwin n/a n/a Link
Jonesborough n/a n/a Link
Harriman n/a n/a Link
Lafayette n/a n/a Link
Rockwood n/a n/a Link
Mount Carmel n/a n/a Link
McKenzie n/a n/a Link
Dunlap n/a n/a Link
Medina 57.0 3.3 Link Memphis Sands Aquifer
Bolivar n/a n/a Link Doesn’t publish their CCR online
Top 100 Tennessee cities by population and their reported water hardness
ppm = Parts Per Million
mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter
gpg = Grains Per Gallon

Hard water can cause issues such as mineral buildup in plumbing and appliances, reduce the efficacy of soaps and detergents, and affect the taste of the water. A tried and true solution is the use of a water softener. A water softener, like the ones from DROP, could be a worthwhile investment.

These devices work by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness with sodium ions, resulting in softer water. With innovative features, easy installation, and efficient operation, DROP smart water softeners provide a solution to hard water issues, extending the lifespan of appliances, improving water taste, enhancing soap effectiveness, reducing scale build-up, and increasing the overall water efficiency in your home.

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