Does Houston Have Hard Water? Water Softener For Houston

How hard is Houston water?

More than 2.39 million people living in Houston, the 4th most populous city in the country and the largest city in Texas, are suffering from hard water problems. Water in Houston, TX contains 8 grains per gallon (GPG) or 135 parts per million (PPM) of calcium and magnesium, and other hardness-causing minerals. Based on the “Water Hardness Scale” set by the federal government, water in Houston is considered “Hard”. In fact, most Texas cities have “Hard” to “Very Hard” water. Take a look at the data collected from the Department of United States Geological Survey, to find out the exact water hardness level of Texas cities.

Water Hardness Data of Texas

City	Water Hardness Level	City	Water Hardness Level
Amarillo	248 PPM (mg/L) or 14 gpg	Abilene	284 PPM (mg/L) or 17 gpg
Allen	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	Arlington	94 PPM (mg/L) or 5 gpg
Austin	184 PPM (mg/L) or 11 gpg	Beaumont	31 PPM (mg/L) or 2 gpg
Bedford	107 PPM (mg/L) or 6.3 gpg	Brownsville	57 PPM (mg/L) or 3 gpg
Bryan	8 PPM (mg/L) or 0.5 gpg	Burelson	140 PPM (mg/L) or 8.2 gpg
Cedar Park	181 PPM (mg/L) or 10.6 gpg	College Station	8 PPM (mg/L) or 0 gpg
Conroe	135 PPM (mg/L) pr 8 gpg	Corpus Christi	227 PPM (mg/L) or 13 gpg
Euless	57.7 PPM (mg/L) or 3.4 gpg	Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex	140 PPM (mg/L) or 8 gpg
Frisco	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	Galveston	200 PPM (mg/L) or 11.7 gpg
Garland	161.5 PPM (mg/L) or 9.5 gpg	Grand Prarie	132 PPM (mg/L) or 7.8 gpg
Grapevine	135 PPM (mg/L) or 7.9 gpg	Greater Houston	135 PPM (mg/L) or 8 gpg
Irving	135 PPM (mg/L) or 7.9 gpg	Keller	140 PPM (mg/L) or 8.2 gpg
Killeen	168 PPM (mg/L) or 10 gpg	El Paso	119 PPM (mg/L) or 7 gpg
Leander	175 PPM (mg/L) or 10.3 gpg	Lewisville	114 PPM (mg/L) or 7 gpg
Little Elm	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	Longview	63 PPM (mg/L) or 4 gpg
Laredo	260 PPM (mg/L) or 15 gpg	Lubbock	243 PPM (mg/L) or 14 gpg
Mansfield	99.8 PPM (mg/L) or 5.9 gpg	Mesquite	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg
McAllen	243 PPM (mg/L) or 14 gpg	Midland	500 PPM (mg/L) or 30 gpg
New Baunfels	266.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	North Richland Hills	134.5 PPM (mg/L) or 7.9 gpg
Odessa	360 PPM (mg/L) or 21 gpg	Pflugerville	118 PPM (mg/L) or 7 gpg
Plano	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	Richardson	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg
Round Rock	187 PPM (mg/L) or 11 gpg	Rowlett	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg
Rusk	224 PPM (mg/L) or 13 gpg	San Angelo	356 PPM (mg/L) or 21 gpg
San Marcos	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	San Antonio	357 PPM (mg/L) or 21 gpg
Sugar Land	143 PPM (mg/L) or 8.4 gpg	Temple	149 PPM (mg/L) or 8.8 gpg
Texas City	200 PPM (mg/L) or 11.7 gpg	Tyler	46 PPM (mg/L) or 3 gpg
Victoria	150 PPM (mg/L) or 9 gpg	Waco	41 PPM (mg/L) or 2 gpg
Willis	155 PPM (mg/L) or 9.7 gpg	Whitchita Falls	50 PPM (mg/L) or 3 gpg
Wylie	146.5 PPM (mg/L) or 8.6 gpg	–	–
PPM = Parts Per Million	mg/L = Milligrams Per Liter	gpg = Grains Per Gallon	–

Where does Houston get its water?

The City of Houston Water and Wastewater Utility Agency, which controls the water supply in Houston, collects 437.4 million gallons of water from these water sources and serves 2.4 million customers every day.

As you all may know, the infamous Texas drought in the 1950s continued for 8 years from 1947-to 1957. During that period, Texas was bone dry because of getting 40-50% less rain than usual. Desperate people moved to Kansas and Oklahoma just to survive.

Unfortunately, by 1953, the effect of drought had spread to Kansas and Oklahoma as well. Crops lost, kettles died, and the economy fell. It was a disastrous period. In order to increase water supply and prevent future droughts, the government started building dams, lakes, and dug deep wells. From 1950 till now, the government has built over 7000+ dams and 187 lakes to reserve water for the state of Texas.

Out of those 187 lakes, Lake Conroe, Lake Houston, and Lake Livingston combinedly provide 85% of the water needed by the City of Houston. Texas. The rest 15% comes from 150+ deep wells.

Lake Conroe: Lake Conroe is a man-made reservoir created to serve as an alternate water supply for the Greater Houston Area. It is located 78 miles north of Houston on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. It holds over 140 billion gallons of water. The construction of Conroe Dam, responsible to create Conroe Lake, was completed in January 1973. The city of Houston owns two-thirds of the water rights of Lake Conroe. The remaining one-third is owned by the San Jacinto River Authority.

Lake Houston: Lake Houston is another man-made reservoir that gets its water from the San Jacinto River. Lake Houston is situated just 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Houston. It was created in 1953 by building the Houston Dam. The city of Houston owns the lake and the Coastal Water Authority controls the water pumping operation from the lake to water treatment facilities.

Lake Livingston: Lake Livingston is the 2nd largest water reservoir in Texas. It was built in 1969 and is located in the East Texas Piney Woods. Lake Livingston gets its water from the Trinity River. It is about 2.5 miles long and 55 deep. The Trinity Water Authority owns and operates the lake. They have a water supplying contract with the City of Houston.

Why does Houston have hard water?

Hardness-causing minerals in Houston water come from the primary sources, which are the San Jacinto River and The Trinity River. These two rivers have a long history of containing calcium, magnesium, uranium, and other naturally occurring minerals that make water hard. Since the Houston water authority collects 85% of the water from these rivers, all of Houston suffers from hard water problems.

Is Houston water safe to shower?

In general, hard water is not safe to bathe in. Hard water contains an excessive amount of calcium and magnesium ions that react with fatty acids used in soaps to create a layer of scum during a shower. That scum does not dissolve in water. So, it is difficult to wash off the body.
Leftover scum on the body and scalp can cause skin irritation, skin rash, and hair fall. The result is severe for those who have sensitive skin.

People with eczema, dermatitis and allergies suffer the most from bathing in hard water. Adult males with“ Male Pattern Baldness” can experience a drastic hair fall and go bald in a year or two. Even females can lose their shiny hair due to using hard water in the shower.

These effects may not come to light immediately, but they will for sure after 3-4 months. So considering all the factors and potential risks, showering in Houston water is not safe.

Do you need a water softener in Houston?

Of course, you need a water softener in Houston. If you want to get rid of hard water, there is no other way but to use a water softener. You can use one of three kinds of water softeners to fight hard water. Those are:

• Salt-based Water Softener
• Salt-free Water Softener (also known as a salt-free Water Conditioner)
• Electronic Water Descaler

How much should you spend on a water softener in Houston?

The price of a water softener depends on many factors including its type, grain size, water softening capacity, water flow rate, etc.

Salt-free Water Softener: Salt-free Water Softeners, or should we say Water Conditioners, are the most popular option to fight hard water problems. Because they are completely maintenance-free and do not require any electricity. Once installed, continue to soften water for 7-8 years without an issue. They cost somewhere between 900-1500 bucks. Salt-free water softeners deliver 7-20 gallons per minute depending on their size. And, it can soften water that contains up to 25-30 grains of hard minerals per gallon.

Salt-based Water Softener: Salt-based Water Softeners are more budget-friendly. They cost around 600-1200 bucks. But they require frequent maintenance, new salt every month, and continuous electricity to operate. Depending on its grain size and salt usage rate, it can soften up to 120 GPG of hard water.

Electronic Water Descaler: Recently, Electronic Water Descalers are also getting traction in the market. They use electromagnetic waves to convert hard water into soft water. They are much more budget-friendly, costing around 200-300 bucks. But it has a limitation. Hard water, which contains more than 8 grains per gallon of calcium and magnesium, cannot be completely softened by a water descaler. Therefore, if you try to use it in Houston, it will struggle most of the time to deliver soft water.

Water Softener For Houston

Is it true you can’t use a salt-based water softener in Houston, Texas?

In 2001, Texas banned using salt-based water softeners statewide. The ban was implemented to protect septic systems and wastewater facilities from water softener discharge. But the law was amended in 2003. House owners and businesses can use a salt-based water softener that regenerates on-demand and conserves water during the process.

In 2022, almost every salt-based water softener available on the market is designed to pass that law. They are more than 90% efficient and by default, regenerate on demand.

Is Houston tap water safe to drink?

The Annual Water Quality Report of Houston shows us that Houston tap water is not safe to drink. Because recent tests have found Lead, Arsenic, PFAS Chemicals, Chromium 6, and other unregulated contaminants in Houston tap water. Even the Huston water authority has mentioned in their Water Quality Report that tap water may look cloudy and taste bitter due to its contaminants. It has been proven that these contaminants cause cancers, hormone imbalances, liver failure, kidney problems, and disrupt the endocrine system.

Yet, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates every public water supplier in the country, has not set any standards for these unregulated contaminants. So, legally, the Houston water supplier is not bound to remove these contaminants from tap water. If you get cloudy distasteful water, you can let them know your concerns by calling 311 or by email at waterquality@houstontx.gov

What are contaminants that have been found in Houston tap water?

Based on the Houston Water Quality Report, the authority has found the presence of at least 25 contaminants in water. These contaminants enter into the water supply system from different sources and in different quantities. Some of them are highly toxic and some are not. Consumption of these contaminants shortens life expectancy and eventually leads to death.

Contaminants	Sources
2,4-D	Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Arsenic	erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production wastes
Atrazine	runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Barium	discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
Chlorine & Chloramines	water additives used to control microbes
Chromium	discharge from steel and pulp mills; erosion of natural deposits
Combined Radium	erosion of natural deposits
Combined Uranium	erosion of natural deposits
Copper	corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits
Cyanide	discharge from steel/metal factories; discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories
Di(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate	Discharge from rubber and chemical factories
Ethylbenzene	Discharge from petroleum refineries
Fluoride	erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Gross Alpha	erosion of natural deposits
Gross Beta	decay of natural and man-made deposits
Lead	corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate / Nitrite	runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Selenium	discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines
Simazine	herbicide runoff
Styrene	Discharge from rubber and plastic factories; Leaching from landfills
Toluene	Discharge from petroleum factories
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)	a by-product of drinking water disinfection
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)	a by-product of drinking water disinfection
Turbidity	soil runoff
Xylenes	discharge from petroleum factories; discharge from chemical factories

Why does the Huston Water Authority not remove Lead, Arsenic, and other unregulated contaminants from tap water?

Water demand in Houston is up to 450 million gallons per day. Financially and technologically, it is almost impossible to set up water filters for lead, arsenic, PFAS chemicals, and other contaminants at that scale. Moreover, these contaminants only pose a threat to human health when consumed. That’s why Huston water authority advises using a Carbon-based or Reverse Osmosis Water Filter to purify tap water before drinking and cooking.

Is Houston water fluoridated?

Yes, Houston tap water contains fluoride. It is beneficial for dental health. Fluoride prevents tooth decay and also prevents microorganisms from growing in water.

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