Hardest Water in Texas
76 cities ranked by water hardness. San Angelo tops the list at 298 PPM.
Texas's water hardness varies significantly by city and water source. The state average across our database is 189 PPM, which is very hard. Most Texas households will benefit from a water softener. 80% of cities we track in Texas have hardness above 120 PPM.
San Angelo has the hardest water at 298 PPM (17.4 GPG). At this level, expect visible scale on faucets, reduced water heater efficiency, and higher soap usage. A salt-based water softener typically pays for itself within 12-18 months in energy and consumable savings.
| # | City | PPM | GPG | Level | Softener? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Angelo | 298 | 17.4 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 2 | McAllen | 290 | 17 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 3 | Abilene | 290 | 17 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 4 | New Braunfels | 285 | 16.7 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 5 | Lubbock | 284 | 16.6 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 6 | Midland | 283 | 16.5 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 7 | Edinburg | 280 | 16.4 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 8 | Schertz | 280 | 16.4 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 9 | Odessa | 278 | 16.3 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 10 | Laredo | 277 | 16.2 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 11 | Mission | 275 | 16.1 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 12 | Amarillo | 274 | 16 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 13 | Harlingen | 270 | 15.8 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 14 | Pharr | 270 | 15.8 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 15 | El Paso | 265 | 15.5 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 16 | Georgetown | 260 | 15.2 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 17 | San Antonio West | 260 | 15.2 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 18 | Cedar Park North | 260 | 15.2 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 19 | Round Rock North | 255 | 14.9 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 20 | San Marcos | 250 | 14.6 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 21 | Copperas Cove | 250 | 14.6 | Extremely Hard | Yes |
| 22 | Denton | 246 | 14.4 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 23 | Allen | 242 | 14.2 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 24 | San Antonio | 240 | 14 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 25 | Brownsville | 236 | 13.8 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 26 | East El Paso | 230 | 13.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 27 | Midlothian | 230 | 13.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 28 | Burleson | 210 | 12.3 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 29 | Manor | 200 | 11.7 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 30 | Round Rock | 195 | 11.4 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 31 | Cedar Park | 195 | 11.4 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 32 | Rockwall | 195 | 11.4 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 33 | Katy West | 195 | 11.4 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 34 | Pflugerville | 190 | 11.1 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 35 | Katy | 190 | 11.1 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 36 | Spring North | 190 | 11.1 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 37 | Leander | 185 | 10.8 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 38 | Missouri City | 185 | 10.8 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 39 | Cypress | 185 | 10.8 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 40 | Temple | 180 | 10.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 41 | Austin | 180 | 10.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 42 | Spring | 180 | 10.5 | Very Hard | Yes |
| 43 | Waco | 177 | 10.4 | Hard | Recommended |
| 44 | Grand Prairie | 175 | 10.2 | Hard | Recommended |
| 45 | Wylie | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 46 | McKinney North | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 47 | West University Place | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 48 | Roanoke | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 49 | Garland East | 170 | 9.9 | Hard | Recommended |
| 50 | Prosper | 165 | 9.6 | Hard | Recommended |
| 51 | North Richland Hills | 165 | 9.6 | Hard | Recommended |
| 52 | Plano West | 165 | 9.6 | Hard | Recommended |
| 53 | Benbrook | 160 | 9.4 | Hard | Recommended |
| 54 | Coppell | 160 | 9.4 | Hard | Recommended |
| 55 | Dallas North | 160 | 9.4 | Hard | Recommended |
| 56 | Southlake | 155 | 9.1 | Hard | Recommended |
| 57 | Mansfield | 125 | 7.3 | Hard | Recommended |
| 58 | Arlington | 124 | 7.3 | Hard | Recommended |
| 59 | Plano | 124 | 7.3 | Hard | Recommended |
| 60 | Houston | 120 | 7 | Hard | Recommended |
| 61 | Garland | 120 | 7 | Hard | Recommended |
| 62 | Frisco | 119 | 7 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 63 | Flower Mound | 115 | 6.7 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 64 | Corpus Christi | 113 | 6.6 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 65 | College Station | 113 | 6.6 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 66 | Fort Worth | 110 | 6.4 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 67 | Dallas | 100 | 5.8 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 68 | League City | 95 | 5.6 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 69 | Irving | 94 | 5.5 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 70 | McKinney | 93 | 5.4 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 71 | Killeen | 92 | 5.4 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 72 | Sugar Land | 90 | 5.3 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 73 | Conroe | 85 | 5 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 74 | Tyler | 75 | 4.4 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 75 | Pearland | 70 | 4.1 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
| 76 | Beaumont | 67 | 3.9 | Moderately Hard | Optional |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average water hardness in Texas?
Across 76 cities in our database, the average water hardness in Texas is 189 PPM (11.1 GPG). This ranges from 67 PPM in Beaumont to 298 PPM in San Angelo.
Do I need a water softener in Texas?
It depends on your city. 80% of Texas cities in our database (61 of 76) have hardness above 120 PPM where a softener provides measurable benefit. Check your specific city above.
Which Texas city has the softest water?
Beaumont has the softest water in Texas at 67 PPM (3.9 GPG). No water softener is needed at this level.
What causes hard water in Texas?
Hard water in Texas is caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium from the local geology. Limestone and dolomite bedrock are the primary sources, dissolving minerals into groundwater and surface water as it flows through the rock.