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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Alice (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Alice Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.8

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

320 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

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 Alice, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Alice	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Alice compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Alice, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	39.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Kingsville, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	51.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Robstown, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	27.4 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Corpus Christi, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Beeville, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	44.9 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Alice compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Alice	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

Bring Scarsdale-quality water to your Alice home

Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →

Shop Now

What Makes Alice's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 320 mg/LpH: 7.8

The City of Alice Public Water System serves approximately 18,000 residents in Alice, Jim Wells County, Texas. Water is drawn from surface sources in the Nueces River Basin and nearby coastal bend reservoirs such as Lake Corpus Christi, treated via conventional filtration and disinfected with chloramines at the city's treatment plant. The utility covers the city and surrounding areas of the Coastal Bend region of South Texas, with a mailing address of PO Box 3229, Alice, TX 78333, serving residential and municipal customers throughout the area.

The Gulf Coastal Plain underlies the region, featuring Cenozoic-era unconsolidated sands, gravels, and clays overlying older Cretaceous limestone formations of the Edwards Group. These carbonate-rich layers — along with evaporitic deposits and karst features — contribute dissolved calcium and magnesium ions to both surface runoff and groundwater of the Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer system. Prolonged contact with carbonate formations yields a hard, mineralised water profile with elevated total dissolved solids typical of limestone-dominated South Texas terrains.

Very hard water promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Affected appliances develop white deposits, reduced flow, and higher energy consumption. Regular vinegar descaling or professional maintenance is recommended; a water softener is strongly advised for households to prevent spotting on dishes and fixtures and dry skin or hair. The 2026 City of Alice Water Quality Report notes 4 contaminants exceeding EPA health-based guidelines; TDS levels are elevated near 406 ppm. Review the full Consumer Confidence Report for compliance details.

Geology & Source: South Texas Gulf Coastal Plain; Cenozoic sands and gravels over Cretaceous Edwards Group limestone — carbonate dissolution and karst features yield hard, mineral-rich surface water

Other Texas Water Reports

Kingsville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Robstown

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Corpus Christi

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Beeville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

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 Alice's water safe to drink?

Yes. Alice's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Alice?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Alice's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Alice compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Alice (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Alice 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.