Jacksonville, FL Tap Water Quality Report (2026): JEA Floridan Aquifer Hardness, TTHM & PFAS
JEA Major Grid
Which filter fits Jacksonville water?
Under-sink reverse osmosis
Cuts dissolved minerals and adds lead and disinfection-byproduct margin at the kitchen tap. EPA puts RO systems at about $150–$1,000 before cartridges and says to look for NSF/ANSI 58 (EPA filter guide).
See Waterdrop G3P800 → See APEC RO →FTC disclosure: product buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come only from public JEA/EPA/USGS data. Disclosure.
Countertop reverse osmosis
No under-sink install. Check the maker's certification listing for the contaminants you care about before you buy (EPA filter guide).
See AquaTru Countertop →FTC disclosure: product buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come only from public JEA/EPA/USGS data. Disclosure.
Whole-house filtration
JEA water runs 7–22 gpg hard (JEA water hardness by ZIP). A whole-house system is a taste, scale and sediment choice; for scale you need a softener or scale-control stage, and JEA notes ion-exchange softeners can raise sodium.
See SpringWell Whole-House → See Aquasana Rhino →FTC disclosure: product buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come only from public JEA/EPA/USGS data. Disclosure.
Jacksonville decision table
| Option | Best for (and what to check) | Cost | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap water as-is | Most JEA homes (check your service line on jea.com/lcrr; flush after water sits) | $0 | Check your ZIP |
| Carbon filter | Chlorine and sulfur taste (NSF/ANSI 53 listing for lead claims) | $20–$1,000 (EPA) | See Aquasana → |
| Countertop RO | Renters (certification listing; cartridge cost) | See maker | See AquaTru → |
| Under-sink RO | Lower minerals and extra margin at the tap (NSF/ANSI 58 listing; membrane cost) | $150–$1,000 (EPA) | See Waterdrop → |
| Whole-house + softener | Scale on fixtures and appliances in very hard ZIPs (watch sodium if you use ion exchange) | Get a quote | See SpringWell → |
FTC disclosure: product buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come only from public JEA/EPA/USGS data. Disclosure.
How we graded Jacksonville (transparent rubric)
Every deduction below comes from a public number with its source.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Start | 100 |
| PFOA and PFOS not detected in any of 62 EPA UCMR 5 samples (2024–2025; reporting level 4 ppt) | 0 |
| Other PFAS detected: PFPeA up to 6.8 ppt and PFPeS up to 5.2 ppt (4 of 62 samples each); neither has a federal limit | −3 |
| Lead detected at some taps (90th percentile 1.5 ppb, 0 of 86 over the 15 ppb action level, 2023; goal is zero) | −3 |
| TTHM: highest location average 70.78 ppb vs 80 ppb limit (one April 2025 sample hit 82.26 ppb; no violation) | 0 |
| Lithium: detected in 7 of 62 samples, highest 14.0 ppb. EPA compares results to its 10 ppb health reference level at one significant digit, so only results above 15 ppb count as above it | 0 |
| Very hard water in most JEA ZIPs: 120–372 mg/L (7–22 gpg); USGS calls 181+ mg/L very hard | −8 |
| Score | 86 = B |
Deduction rules (same as our Austin report): any PFOA or PFOS result above 4.0 ppt −5; other PFAS detected −3; lithium above EPA's 10 ppb health reference level −3; lead detected at the tap −3; TTHM above 80 ppb at any location −10; hardness moderately hard −4, hard −6, very hard −8. Scale: 93+ A, 90–92 A−, 87–89 B+, 83–86 B, 80–82 B−, 77–79 C+, 73–76 C, 70–72 C−, 67–69 D+, 63–66 D, 60–62 D−, below 60 F. JEA's 2025 report also lists aesthetic (secondary) standards exceeded for chloride, odor and total dissolved solids on the Major Grid; JEA says these affect look, smell and taste, not health, so they are not scored.
Sources: JEA 2025 Water Quality Report; EPA UCMR 5 data (PWSID FL2161328, 2024–2025 sampling); JEA water hardness by ZIP; USGS hardness scale; all accessed Oct 27, 2026.
Jacksonville water, explained in plain English
No PFOA or PFOS found
EPA's enforceable limits are 4.0 ppt each for PFOA and PFOS (EPA PFAS rule). In 62 UCMR 5 samples from JEA Major Grid plants, neither was detected. PFPeA (up to 6.8 ppt) and PFPeS (up to 5.2 ppt) turned up in 4 samples each, from the St. Johns North, St. Johns Forest, Greenland and Rivertown plants (EPA UCMR 5 data).
90th percentile 1.5 ppb
In 2023 tap sampling, 90% of Major Grid results were at or under 1.5 ppb and none of 86 exceeded the 15 ppb action level. JEA has published a service line inventory at jea.com/lcrr where you can check your address (JEA 2025 Water Quality Report).
TTHM 70.78 ppb, 7–22 gpg
JEA disinfects with chlorine. The highest TTHM location average was 70.78 ppb and HAA5 22.55 ppb, both under limits (JEA 2025 Water Quality Report). Hardness runs 120–372 mg/L by ZIP (JEA water hardness by ZIP); USGS calls anything over 180 mg/L very hard (USGS).
Free 6-Month Replacement Filter Reminder
Filter makers set replacement intervals for each cartridge, and an overdue cartridge stops doing its job. Pick your system and we will remind you at 6 months to check your maker's schedule.
What Does Filtered Water Cost in Jacksonville?
- Ongoing cost never ends
- Use your store's real price below
- Look for NSF/ANSI 53 for lead
- Good for chlorine and sulfur taste
- Look for NSF/ANSI 58
- Point-of-use: kitchen tap only
5-year cost calculator (starting values are examples only; enter your own)
Filter 5-yr cost = system price + (cartridge price × changes per year × 5). Bottled 5-yr cost = price per gallon × gallons per day × 365 × 5.
FTC disclosure: product buttons are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come only from public JEA/EPA/USGS data. Disclosure.
Jacksonville tap water checklist
- Look up your ZIP. Enter your ZIP in the CleanWaterGrade lookup. EPA UCMR 5 records list 37 ZIP codes served by the JEA Major Grid.
- Read the JEA report. Open JEA's 2025 Water Quality Report, pick your grid (Major Grid covers most of Duval County) and note lead, TTHM and any exceedances.
- Check your hardness and service line. Look up your ZIP on JEA's hardness table, and check your service line material on JEA's lead service line map at jea.com/lcrr.
- Flush before drinking. If water has sat for hours, run the tap, shower or do a load of laundry first, and use only cold water for drinking and cooking, as JEA advises.
- Pick a certified filter. For lead, JEA says use a filter certified by an ANSI-accredited certifier. For PFAS, EPA says look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58. A softener treats hardness, not health.
- Set a cartridge reminder. Replace cartridges on the maker's schedule; use the free 6-month reminder below.
Run the ZIP lookup → Related: Tampa, Miami, water hardness by ZIP, whole-house filter vs RO, best RO systems, EPA PFAS limits explained.
Other Jacksonville results worth knowing
- JEA's Major Grid supplies most of Duval County and northwest St. Johns County; smaller grids (Mayport, Lofton Oaks, Ponte Vedra, Ponce de Leon, Palm Valley) have their own tables in the report (JEA 2025 Water Quality Report).
- Secondary (aesthetic) standards exceeded on the Major Grid in 2023 sampling: chloride up to 319 ppm (standard 250), odor up to 44.7 (standard 3) and total dissolved solids up to 864 ppm (standard 500). JEA says Florida source water is naturally high in minerals and these do not affect health (JEA 2025 Water Quality Report).
- Fluoride up to 1.06 ppm and sodium up to 126 ppm on the Major Grid; 90% of copper samples at or under 0.08 ppm (JEA 2025 Water Quality Report).
- EPA proposed in May 2026 to keep the 4.0 ppt PFOA/PFOS limits, let systems request until 2031 to comply, and rescind the limits for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and the Hazard Index (EPA PFAS rule).
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FAQs
Is Jacksonville tap water safe to drink?
JEA's 2025 report shows Major Grid results within federal health limits: highest TTHM average 70.78 ppb against an 80 ppb limit, and 90% of 2023 lead samples at or under 1.5 ppb with none over the action level. One April 2025 TTHM sample hit 82.26 ppb, but the annual average stayed below the limit.
Does Jacksonville water have PFAS?
Not PFOA or PFOS. In EPA UCMR 5 testing of the JEA Major Grid in 2024 and 2025, neither was detected in 62 samples. Two other PFAS without federal limits, PFPeA up to 6.8 ppt and PFPeS up to 5.2 ppt, were found in 4 samples each.
How hard is Jacksonville water?
Very hard in most areas. JEA lists hardness by ZIP from 120 to 372 mg/L, or about 7 to 22 grains per gallon, and says it is usually highest near the St. Johns Forest plant. Downtown 32202 is 239 mg/L. JEA says hard water is not a health risk.
Why does Jacksonville water smell like sulfur?
JEA draws water from the Floridan aquifer about 1,000 feet down and runs it through aerators to remove the sulfur odor; two plants also use ozone for sulfide and taste. JEA's 2025 report lists odor above the aesthetic standard on the Major Grid, which it says is not a health issue.
Sources (all accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- JEA 2025 Water Quality Report (2025 data; Major Grid tables)
- JEA water hardness by ZIP
- EPA UCMR 5 data (UCMR5_All.txt, UCMR5_ZIPCodes.txt; PWSID FL2161328)
- EPA SDWIS record (JEA Major Grid, population served)
- EPA PFAS rule
- EPA filter guide
- USGS, Hardness of water