South Florida Water Quality Map

South Florida's water comes from the Biscayne Aquifer — a shallow limestone aquifer producing some of the hardest water in the United States. This interactive map shows water hardness (GPG) and key quality data for all 104 cities across Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Data sourced from EPA, USGS, and Florida Department of Health.

Water Hardness Averages by County

Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG). Anything above 10.5 GPG is classified as very hard by USGS standards — South Florida averages 14–25 GPG across the tri-county area.

Broward County — 13–22 GPG average. Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Hollywood, Weston.
Palm Beach County — 14–25 GPG average (hardest in tri-county). Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter.
Miami-Dade County — 12–20 GPG average. Miami, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Homestead, Doral.

South Florida Water Quality Questions

Why is South Florida water so hard?: South Florida's water comes from the Biscayne Aquifer, a shallow limestone formation that naturally dissolves calcium and magnesium, producing water averaging 14–25 GPG — among the hardest municipal water in the United States.
Which South Florida city has the hardest water?: Cities in western Palm Beach County generally have the hardest water, averaging 18–25 GPG. Wellington, Loxahatchee, and western Boca Raton consistently measure the highest hardness levels due to deeper aquifer penetration through thicker limestone.
How does hard water affect South Florida homes?: South Florida's very hard water causes scale buildup in pipes and water heaters, reduces appliance efficiency and lifespan by 20–30%, leaves white mineral deposits on fixtures, reduces soap lather requiring more detergent, and contributes to dry skin and hair.