How does Texarkana's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Texarkana (83 mg/L) is 68 mg/L softer than average.

Texarkana Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

83mg/L

Moderately Hard

4.8 grains per gallon

Source

river

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

392 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.22

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

83mg/L as CaCO₃Moderately Hard

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Texarkana, your appliances are currently losing 11% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Texarkana	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.9 yrs	8.5 yrs	-19%
Washing Machine	10.5 yrs	12 yrs	-13%
Water Heater	12.3 yrs	15 yrs	-18%

Regional Water Comparison

How Texarkana compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Texarkana, Arkansas	83 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	river
Texarkana, Texas	83 mg/L	0 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Magnolia, Arkansas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
Marshall, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Shreveport, Louisiana	≈ 120–179 mg/L	19.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	river

National Benchmark

How Texarkana compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Texarkana	83 mg/L	🟡 Low
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Texarkana's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: RiverTDS: 392 mg/LpH: 8

Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) is a joint municipal utility serving Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas, across Miller County, AR, and Bowie County, TX. The utility draws from two surface reservoirs: Lake Wright Patman on the Sulphur River in Texas and Lake Millwood on the Little River in Arkansas. Raw water is treated at the TWU treatment plant through conventional coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination to meet EPA standards, serving approximately 60,000 residents in the bi-state metro area.

Both reservoirs sit within the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province and the Red River basin watershed. Underlying geology includes Cretaceous-age Nacatoch Sand, Ozan Formation shales, and overlying Quaternary terrace deposits with minimal karst features. This soft sedimentary profile results in moderately mineralised water — surface waters interact briefly with low-carbonate soils and clays, avoiding the heavy mineral loading typical of limestone-dominated basins.

At moderately hard levels, subtle scale buildup can develop in pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers over time, reducing efficiency and causing faint spotting on glassware. Soap lathering may be slightly reduced, increasing detergent consumption. Regular vinegar descaling and annual appliance inspections help mitigate issues; a water softener is recommended for optimal appliance performance and longevity. Recent Consumer Confidence Reports show stable pH around 7.5–8.5, copper below action levels, and no notable PFAS detections.

Geology & Source: Gulf Coastal Plain surface reservoirs; Cretaceous Ozan and Annona Formations — soft shales, clays, minor limestone; limited carbonate bedrock yields moderately mineralised water from brief surface runoff contact rather than carbonate dissolution

Other Arkansas Water Reports

Texarkana

83 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Magnolia

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Marshall

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Shreveport

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Texarkana's water safe to drink?

Yes. Texarkana's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 83 mg/L (Moderately Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Texarkana?

Texarkana's water is moderately hard at 83 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Texarkana compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Texarkana (83 mg/L) is 68 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Texarkana is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.