Water softener installation in Jacksonville, FL: what's really in your water
Some of the hardest city water in Florida.
JEA pulls Jacksonville's water from the Floridan Aquifer, and it runs about 11 grains of hardness, some of the hardest city water in the state. Here's what that does to your home, and how to fix it.
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Tell us your ZIP code and a rep calls you within 5 minutes to answer every question. No pressure, no sales visit.
You're probably on this page because:
- Every faucet in the house has white crust
- Your water heaters don't last
- Everything the dishwasher touches comes out spotty
That's Jacksonville water. It's fixable.
What hard water looks like
Crusty shower head. White buildup clogs the spray.
Faucet scale. Comes right back after you scrub.
Cloudy glasses. Even right out of the dishwasher.
Hard water stains on glass. That foggy film that won't wipe off.
See 2 or more? Your water is hard.
Hard water, by the numbers
- About 156 pounds of rock a year: what a family of 4 runs through its pipes at 10 grains of hardness. About 250 pounds in very hard water.
- Up to 48% less efficient: gas water heaters on hard water in testing.
- 1 in 3 homeowners replaced appliances or fixtures because of buildup.
Sources: 300 gal/day × grains × 64.8 mg × 365; WQRF and Battelle; Morton Salt survey via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Why Jacksonville water is so hard
JEA, Jacksonville's utility, draws water from the Floridan Aquifer, one of the most productive limestone aquifers in the world. Water sitting in limestone dissolves calcium and magnesium, so by the time it reaches your tap it's carrying a lot of rock.
JEA's network is huge: more than 4,600 miles of water lines, with water disinfected with chlorine before it leaves the reservoirs, and tens of thousands of tests a year. (JEA water quality report)
Utility-reported data puts Jacksonville at about 11 grains per gallon, in the "very hard" range. That's well past the point where most water pros recommend a softener.
Hardness varies across Jacksonville
JEA runs many treatment plants across a large area, so hardness isn't the same everywhere. The beaches can run even harder: Jacksonville Beach reports about 13.7 grains, among the hardest measured city water in Florida. (TapWaterData)
That's why we check your ZIP code before quoting. A home in Mandarin and a home near the beach can need different sizes.
Jacksonville's chlorine is plain chlorine, not chloramine, which standard carbon handles well. So the fix here is mostly about hardness: a properly sized softener with carbon in front of it to protect the resin.
Best setup for Jacksonville homes
- City Water System: $2,950 installed. Softener for hardness, carbon for the disinfectant, RO for drinking water
Life with it vs. without
| Without it | With it |
|---|---|
| Spots, scale or that pool taste | Clean, soft-feeling water |
| Guessing what you need | A system matched to Jacksonville water |
How we work, start to finish
- 1
You reach out or book online
- 2
A rep calls you, usually within 5 minutes, to confirm your system and answer questions
- 3
We schedule a licensed local plumber, usually within a week
- 4
Install day: a few hours, plus a before-and-after water test
- 5
After that: new filters every 6 months if you subscribe
Water advice built on local data
20+ years in water, and every city page starts from that city's own water reports.
- 20+ years in water
- Our own patents
- We supply other water companies
- [Thousands] of systems sold
- Licensed installers
Written by [Name], [title], [20+] years in water treatment. Reviewed by [Licensed plumber name], license # [#]. Last updated [date]. Sources: listed under each "By the numbers" block and linked in the copy
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Questions people ask
How hard is Jacksonville water?
About 11 grains per gallon, very hard.
Does JEA use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine.
Is Jacksonville Beach water harder?
About 13.7 grains, per utility data.
Do I need a softener in Jacksonville?
At 11 grains, almost always.
What size softener for Jacksonville?
Usually 48,000 grain for a family, given the hardness.
Do you serve the beaches?
[Confirm areas.]