Jacksonville Water Hardness by ZIP Code (JEA Data, 2026)
If you've ever scrubbed white crust off a showerhead in Jacksonville, you already know our water is hard. Here's why, what JEA's numbers say for every ZIP it serves, and how to find your own.
Why Northeast Florida water is hard
JEA, Clay County Utility Authority and St. Johns County Utility all pump groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer, a huge layer of limestone deep underground. As water moves through limestone it dissolves calcium and magnesium, the two minerals that make water "hard." The USGS explains it the same way: groundwater picks up minerals from the rock it passes through.
Hardness by ZIP code (JEA's full list)
JEA says these are averages of the wells serving each water plant, sampled between October and December of the previous year, and that hardness is usually highest near St. Johns Forest and lowest around the Cecil Commerce area. Sorted hardest first. We copied the table on October 20, 2026.
| ZIP | Area (approx.) | County | Grains per gallon | ppm | JEA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32081 | Nocatee | St. Johns | 22 | 372 | Very Hard |
| 32095 | Palencia / north St. Augustine | St. Johns | 21 | 355 | Very Hard |
| 32082 | Ponte Vedra Beach | St. Johns | 20 | 346 | Very Hard |
| 32216 | Southside | Duval | 20 | 341 | Very Hard |
| 32256 | Baymeadows / Tinseltown | Duval | 20 | 336 | Very Hard |
| 32092 | World Golf Village / northwest St. Augustine | St. Johns | 18 | 307 | Very Hard |
| 32225 | Arlington / Fort Caroline | Duval | 18 | 307 | Very Hard |
| 32259 | Fruit Cove / St. Johns | St. Johns | 18 | 305 | Very Hard |
| 32207 | San Marco | Duval | 17 | 298 | Very Hard |
| 32211 | Arlington | Duval | 17 | 297 | Very Hard |
| 32217 | San Jose | Duval | 17 | 285 | Very Hard |
| 32224 | Intracoastal West / Kernan | Duval | 17 | 297 | Very Hard |
| 32246 | Southside / Kernan | Duval | 17 | 297 | Very Hard |
| 32250 | Jacksonville Beach | Duval | 17 | 292 | Very Hard |
| 32257 | Mandarin | Duval | 17 | 290 | Very Hard |
| 32258 | Bartram Park | Duval | 17 | 289 | Very Hard |
| 32277 | Arlington | Duval | 17 | 285 | Very Hard |
| 32034 | Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island (JEA-served areas) | Nassau | 16 | 273 | Very Hard |
| 32097 | Yulee | Nassau | 16 | 274 | Very Hard |
| 32220 | Westside | Duval | 16 | 270 | Very Hard |
| 32228 | Mayport | Duval | 16 | 266 | Very Hard |
| 32233 | Atlantic Beach / Mayport | Duval | 16 | 266 | Very Hard |
| 32218 | Northside / Oceanway | Duval | 15 | 259 | Very Hard |
| 32219 | Northwest Jacksonville | Duval | 15 | 252 | Very Hard |
| 32223 | Mandarin | Duval | 15 | 254 | Very Hard |
| 32202 | Downtown Jacksonville | Duval | 14 | 239 | Very Hard |
| 32204 | Riverside | Duval | 14 | 247 | Very Hard |
| 32206 | Springfield / Eastside | Duval | 14 | 233 | Very Hard |
| 32209 | Northwest Jacksonville | Duval | 14 | 248 | Very Hard |
| 32226 | Northside | Duval | 14 | 247 | Very Hard |
| 32254 | Westside | Duval | 14 | 247 | Very Hard |
| 32205 | Avondale / Murray Hill | Duval | 13 | 226 | Very Hard |
| 32208 | Northside | Duval | 13 | 229 | Very Hard |
| 32221 | Westside | Duval | 12 | 199 | Very Hard |
| 32210 | Westside / Ortega | Duval | 11 | 194 | Very Hard |
| 32073 | Orange Park | Clay | 8 | 128 | Hard |
| 32215 | Jacksonville (Westside) | Duval | 8 | 137 | Hard |
| 32222 | Westside | Duval | 8 | 128 | Hard |
| 32244 | Westside | Duval | 8 | 128 | Hard |
| 32065 | Oakleaf / Orange Park west | Clay | 7 | 120 | Hard |
| 32234 | Baldwin | Duval | 7 | 120 | Hard |
"Area" is our approximate label to help you find your ZIP; it isn't part of JEA's table. Always check JEA's page for the current numbers.
The five hardest ZIPs on JEA's list
- 32081 (Nocatee): about 22 gpg / 372 ppm · water softeners in Ponte Vedra
- 32095 (Palencia / north St. Augustine): about 21 gpg / 355 ppm · water softeners in St. Augustine
- 32082 (Ponte Vedra Beach): about 20 gpg / 346 ppm · water softeners in Ponte Vedra
- 32216 (Southside): about 20 gpg / 341 ppm · water softeners in Jacksonville
- 32256 (Baymeadows / Tinseltown): about 20 gpg / 336 ppm · water softeners in Jacksonville
What do grains per gallon and ppm mean?
Hardness is measured either in parts per million (ppm, the same as mg/L) or grains per gallon (gpg). One grain per gallon equals 17.1 ppm. Softener settings are usually in grains, so that's the number we write down for you. JEA uses this scale:
| Class | ppm (mg/L) | About |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 0–17.1 ppm | under 1 gpg |
| Slightly hard | 17.1–60 ppm | 1–3.5 gpg |
| Moderately hard | 60–120 ppm | 3.5–7 gpg |
| Hard | 120–180 ppm | 7–10.5 gpg |
| Very hard | 180+ ppm | over 10.5 gpg |
The USGS uses nearly the same breakpoints (0–60 mg/L soft, 61–120 moderately hard, 121–180 hard, over 180 very hard).
What hard water does at home
- Scale on faucets, showerheads and frameless glass
- Spots on dishes and a film inside the dishwasher
- Mineral buildup inside water heaters and appliances
- Soap and shampoo that don't lather well; skin and hair that feel dry
To be fair about it, JEA points out that hard water isn't a health risk. Softening is a comfort and upkeep choice, and JEA notes that ion-exchange softeners add some sodium to the water. If that matters for your household, ask us about keeping a kitchen tap on unsoftened water or adding under-sink reverse osmosis for drinking water.
Not on JEA? Clay, St. Johns and well water
JEA's table only covers JEA customers. Clay County Utility Authority and St. Johns County Utility publish yearly water quality reports for their own systems (linked below). If you're on a private well (common around Macclenny, Callahan and rural Clay County), no utility number applies. The Florida Department of Health recommends regular well testing, and well water can also carry iron or a sulfur smell. See our guide to well water sulfur smell.
Find your exact number
Utility averages are a good start, but what comes out of your tap is what matters. Book a free water hardness test. We test before and after any softener we install, so you can see the difference yourself.
Common questions
How hard is Jacksonville water?
On JEA's ZIP list, Duval County ZIPs range from about 7 to 20 grains per gallon (gpg). 35 of the 41 ZIPs JEA lists are "very hard" (over 180 ppm, about 10.5 gpg).
Which ZIP code has the hardest JEA water?
32081 (Nocatee) at about 22 gpg (372 ppm), followed by 32095 (Palencia / north St. Augustine) at 21 and 32082 (Ponte Vedra Beach), 32216 (Southside) and 32256 (Baymeadows) at about 20.
Which JEA ZIP codes have the softest water?
The lowest numbers on JEA's list are about 7 gpg in 32065 (Oakleaf) and 32234 (Baldwin), and about 8 gpg in 32073, 32215, 32222 and 32244. JEA still classifies those as "hard."
Is hard water safe to drink?
Yes. JEA states that hard water is not a health risk. Calcium and magnesium are minerals people take as supplements. Softening is mostly about scale, spots, soap and appliance life.
What hardness is St. Johns County water?
It depends on your provider. JEA-served ZIPs in St. Johns County are among the hardest on JEA's list: about 22 gpg in 32081, 21 in 32095, 20 in 32082 and 18 in 32092 and 32259. St. Johns County Utility publishes separate reports for each of its systems. A free test at your tap gives your exact number.