Is Tennessee tap water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 22 % of the 9 cities with published data in Tennessee have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L). The median is 3.8 gpg, from 1.8 gpg in Crossville to 9.8 gpg in Franklin.
We have published hardness data for 9 cities in Tennessee. The median is 3.8 gpg; the hardest water is in Franklin (9.8 gpg), the softest in Crossville (1.8 gpg).
22 % of these cities have hard or very hard water (over 120 mg/L).
USGS classes: soft 0–60, moderately hard 61–120, hard 121–180, very hard >180 mg/L.
Cities in Tennessee, hardest first
| gpg | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 9.8 | 167 | hard |
| Spring Hill | 7.2 | 124 | hard |
| Knoxville | 5.5 | 94 | moderately hard |
| Cookeville | 4.5 | 77 | moderately hard |
| Smyrna | 3.8 | 65 | moderately hard |
| Maryville | 3.5 | 60 | moderately hard |
| Memphis | 2.8 | 48 | soft |
| Bartlett | 2.3 | 39 | soft |
| Crossville | 1.8 | 30 | soft |
FAQ
Is Tennessee water hard or soft?
Mostly not. 22 % of the 9 cities we cover have hard or very hard water; the median is 3.8 gpg.
Which city in Tennessee has the hardest water?
Franklin, at 9.8 gpg, has the hardest water of the 9 cities with published data.
Which city in Tennessee has the softest water?
Crossville, at 1.8 gpg, has the softest water of the 9 cities with published data.
Do I need a water softener in Tennessee?
Above about 120 mg/L (7 gpg) scale builds up in water heaters, kettles and dishwashers, and a softener or at least regular descaling pays off. Look up your own city in the table: in Tennessee the values range from 1.8 gpg to 9.8 gpg.
On a private well? Well water hardness in Tennessee by county →