Is Texas Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 76 cities across Texas. Find your city below.
Water quality in Texas varies significantly from city to city. Across 76 cities we track, hardness ranges from 67 PPM in Beaumont to 298 PPM in San Angelo, with a statewide average of 189 PPM. 61 of 76 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
28 Texas cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Abilene (124.62 ppt), Midland (40.8 ppt), Edinburg (13.9 ppt), El Paso (33.64 ppt), Georgetown (41.59 ppt), and 23 more. A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
76
Cities
189
Avg Hardness (PPM)
298
Hardest City (PPM)
Complete Texas Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in Texas
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
Texas cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Lubbock
🧂 Best SoftenerEl Paso
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🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterAustin
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterPlano West
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🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterArlington
🧂 Best SoftenerPlano
🧂 Best SoftenerHouston
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🔬 Best FilterDallas
🔬 Best FilterCity Comparisons
San Angelo vs Beaumont
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
San Angelo vs Mcallen
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Mcallen vs Abilene
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
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Moving to San Antonio WestMoving to San AntonioMoving to AustinSoftener Cost in El PasoSoftener Cost in San Antonio WestSoftener Cost in San AntonioTexas Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Angelo | 298 | Extremely Hard | 30.88 | O.C. Fisher Lake, Twin Buttes Reservoir |
| McAllen | 290 | Extremely Hard | 11.88 | Rio Grande |
| Abilene | 290 | Extremely Hard | 124.62 | Fort Phantom Hill Lake, Hubbard Creek Re… |
| New Braunfels | 285 | Extremely Hard | 19.63 | Edwards Aquifer groundwater |
| Lubbock | 284 | Extremely Hard | 8.3 | Ogallala Aquifer, Lake Meredith |
| Midland | 283 | Extremely Hard | 40.8 | T-Bar Ranch wellfield, Colorado River |
| Edinburg | 280 | Extremely Hard | 13.9 | Rio Grande River |
| Schertz | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Edwards Aquifer |
| Odessa | 278 | Extremely Hard | 13.77 | Ward County wellfields |
| Laredo | 277 | Extremely Hard | 6.48 | Rio Grande |
| Mission | 275 | Extremely Hard | 6.78 | Rio Grande River |
| Amarillo | 274 | Extremely Hard | 5.3 | Ogallala Aquifer |
| Harlingen | 270 | Extremely Hard | 13.9 | Arroyo Colorado & Rio Grande |
| Pharr | 270 | Extremely Hard | 8.3 | Rio Grande River |
| El Paso | 265 | Extremely Hard | 33.64 | Rio Grande, Hueco Bolson, desal |
| Georgetown | 260 | Extremely Hard | 41.59 | Edwards Aquifer & Lake Georgetown |
| San Antonio West | 260 | Extremely Hard | 14.45 | Edwards Aquifer |
| Cedar Park North | 260 | Extremely Hard | 5 | Lake Travis + Edwards Aquifer |
| Round Rock North | 255 | Extremely Hard | 19.45 | Edwards Aquifer |
| San Marcos | 250 | Extremely Hard | 17.1 | Edwards Aquifer springs |
| Copperas Cove | 250 | Extremely Hard | 20.37 | Edwards limestone aquifer |
| Denton | 246 | Very Hard | 20.6 | Lake Lewisville, Lake Ray Roberts |
| Allen | 242 | Very Hard | 25.55 | Lavon Lake, Lake Texoma |
| San Antonio | 240 | Very Hard | 14.45 | Edwards Aquifer |
| Brownsville | 236 | Very Hard | 36.2 | Rio Grande |
| East El Paso | 230 | Very Hard | 33.64 | Hueco Bolson Aquifer |
| Midlothian | 230 | Very Hard | 32.83 | Joe Pool Lake + wells |
| Burleson | 210 | Very Hard | 16.58 | Groundwater |
| Manor | 200 | Very Hard | 9.1 | Groundwater + Colorado River |
| Round Rock | 195 | Very Hard | 19.45 | Lake Georgetown |
| Cedar Park | 195 | Very Hard | 5 | Lake Travis |
| Rockwall | 195 | Very Hard | 19.83 | Lake Lavon |
| Katy West | 195 | Very Hard | 0 | Groundwater + surface blend |
| Pflugerville | 190 | Very Hard | 85.39 | Lake Travis & groundwater |
| Katy | 190 | Very Hard | 0 | Groundwater + surface blend |
| Spring North | 190 | Very Hard | 33.12 | Groundwater |
| Leander | 185 | Very Hard | 5.05 | Colorado River |
| Missouri City | 185 | Very Hard | 0 | Groundwater + surface blend |
| Cypress | 185 | Very Hard | 4.5 | Groundwater |
| Temple | 180 | Very Hard | 30.46 | Belton Lake |
| Austin | 180 | Very Hard | 27.2 | Colorado River, Lake Travis |
| Spring | 180 | Very Hard | 33.12 | Groundwater |
| Waco | 177 | Hard | 6.5 | Lake Waco |
| Grand Prairie | 175 | Hard | 54.77 | Joe Pool Lake + Dallas supply |
| Wylie | 170 | Hard | 27.28 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| McKinney North | 170 | Hard | 6.83 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| West University Place | 170 | Hard | 35.34 | Groundwater + surface blend |
| Roanoke | 170 | Hard | 16.48 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| Garland East | 170 | Hard | 24.12 | Lavon Lake |
| Prosper | 165 | Hard | 34.57 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| North Richland Hills | 165 | Hard | 36.68 | Trinity River watershed |
| Plano West | 165 | Hard | 16.93 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| Benbrook | 160 | Hard | 14.6 | Lake Benbrook |
| Coppell | 160 | Hard | 18.13 | North Texas Municipal Water |
| Dallas North | 160 | Hard | 49.34 | Lewisville Lake |
| Southlake | 155 | Hard | 30.21 | Trinity River watershed |
| Mansfield | 125 | Hard | 14.73 | Joe Pool Lake & Benbrook Lake |
| Arlington | 124 | Hard | 23.5 | Dallas/Fort Worth blend |
| Plano | 124 | Hard | 16.93 | North Texas MWD |
| Houston | 120 | Hard | 30.81 | Surface water |
| Garland | 120 | Hard | 24.12 | North Texas MWD |
| Frisco | 119 | Moderately Hard | 23.48 | North Texas MWD |
| Flower Mound | 115 | Moderately Hard | 32.69 | Lewisville Lake |
| Corpus Christi | 113 | Moderately Hard | 17.9 | Lake Corpus Christi, Choke Canyon |
| College Station | 113 | Moderately Hard | 24.1 | Brazos River Authority, Alluvial wells |
| Fort Worth | 110 | Moderately Hard | 47.95 | Cedar Creek, Richland-Chambers |
| Dallas | 100 | Moderately Hard | 49.34 | Surface reservoirs |
| League City | 95 | Moderately Hard | 50.45 | Surface water from Trinity River basin |
| Irving | 94 | Moderately Hard | 44.71 | Dallas Water Utilities |
| McKinney | 93 | Moderately Hard | 6.83 | North Texas MWD |
| Killeen | 92 | Moderately Hard | 13.03 | Belton Lake |
| Sugar Land | 90 | Moderately Hard | 828.52 | Brazos River Authority, groundwater |
| Conroe | 85 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Lake Conroe & San Jacinto River |
| Tyler | 75 | Moderately Hard | 6.97 | Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler |
| Pearland | 70 | Moderately Hard | 49.39 | Groundwater, surface water blend |
| Beaumont | 67 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Neches River |
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Water
Is Texas tap water safe to drink?
Texas tap water meets EPA legal standards in most cities. 28 cities have PFAS levels above the EPA health advisory of 4 ppt. The statewide average hardness of 189 PPM means most homes deal with hard water effects like scale buildup, though hardness is not a health concern. Check your specific city above for detailed data.
Do I need a water softener in Texas?
Most Texas cities would benefit from a water softener. The state average is 189 PPM, and 80% of cities exceed 120 PPM where softener benefits become measurable. A salt-based softener reduces scale damage, energy waste, and product use.
Which Texas city has the hardest water?
San Angelo has the hardest water in Texas at 298 PPM (17.4 GPG). McAllen is second at 290 PPM. See the full ranking.
What contaminants are in Texas water?
The most common concerns across Texas are hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium), and PFAS (forever chemicals) detected in 28 cities. Each city has different levels - check your city above for specific contaminant data.
How much does a water softener cost in Texas?
A whole-house water softener for a typical Texas home costs $800-$2,500 installed, depending on capacity and brand. At 189 PPM average hardness, most homes need a 32,000-48,000 grain system. Full cost breakdown.