Portales Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
26.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1496.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
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 Portales, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Portales | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Portales compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portales, New Mexico | 454 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Clovis, New Mexico | 162 mg/L | 2.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
| Hereford, Texas | 335.5 mg/L | 10.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Levelland, Texas | 247.5 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Lovington, New Mexico | 447.5 mg/L | 4.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Portales compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Portales | 454 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Portales home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Portales's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Portales, New Mexico, in Roosevelt County — a Roosevelt County city adjacent to Clovis and Elida on the Llano Estacado High Plains in southeast New Mexico — receives its water from the City of Portales Water Department, drawing from deep Ogallala Aquifer wells beneath the Llano Estacado through the southeast New Mexico distribution.
The extremely hard 454 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1496.7 mg/L place Portales among the hardest municipal water supplies in the United States — the Pliocene Ogallala Formation beneath the Llano Estacado is heavily cemented with calcareous caliche (calcium carbonate), accumulated over millions of years of evaporative concentration on this arid high plain (compare Clovis NM: 430/1400 in Curry County comparable; Roswell NM: 390/1180 in Chaves County somewhat softer; Portales among the highest hardness in the nation from the Roosevelt County Ogallala caliche aquifer). The Ogallala Aquifer at Roosevelt County — Pliocene Ogallala Formation (calcareous caliche — primary hardness contributor), Pleistocene eolian deposits (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Miocene basal sand (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 454 mg/L with TDS 1497, Portales has among the hardest water in America — a whole-house water softener is essential, and appliance warranties may be voided without one. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking. The PFAS level of 4.3 ppt is moderate — below current federal action levels. Review the City of Portales' annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Portales in Roosevelt County draws from the City of Portales Water on the Ogallala Aquifer (Roosevelt County, southeast New Mexico) — the Llano Estacado at Roosevelt County is developed in Pliocene Ogallala Formation (calcareous caliche) and Pleistocene eolian deposits (slightly calcareous) — New Mexico Roosevelt County Ogallala Aquifer caliche supply produces extremely hard water at 454 mg/L with TDS 1496.7 mg/L.