Alief Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
8.5 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
325.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.39
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 Alief, your appliances are currently losing 19% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Alief | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -44% |
| Washing Machine | 8.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -32% |
| Water Heater | 9.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -35% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Alief compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alief, Texas | 145 mg/L | 6.1 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Mission Bend, Texas | 173 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Four Corners, Texas | 311.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Sugar Land, Texas | 155 mg/L | 6.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Stafford, Texas | 407.5 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Alief compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alief | 145 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Alief's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Alief, an unincorporated community and major residential area in southwest Houston, Harris County, receives its municipal water supply from the City of Houston Water Department, drawing from the Houston regional water infrastructure — sourcing from Lake Livingston (Trinity River, Trinity County) via the City of Houston Lake Livingston Pipeline, Lake Conroe (West Fork San Jacinto River, Montgomery County), and the Houston Ship Channel–associated distribution network, treated at multiple Houston water treatment plants. Water hardness in Alief measures 145 mg/L — classified as moderately hard.
Alief's moderate hardness reflects the southeast Texas surface water character of the Houston supply system in the southwest distribution zone. Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe surface water — while drawn from East Texas Piney Woods river systems that drain some calcareous terrain — is the relatively softer fraction of the Houston supply. The Alief area in southwest Harris County historically relied heavily on Gulf Coast Aquifer System groundwater (Chicot Aquifer), and some Harris County Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) in the Alief area may blend Houston City supply with local deep groundwater from the Evangeline Aquifer underlying the southwest Harris County coastal plain. The Beaumont Formation calcareous coastal plain alluvium and long groundwater residence times contribute moderate dissolved calcium.
At 145 mg/L, Alief residents encounter moderate scale accumulation. Faucet aerators and showerheads develop deposits after several months — monthly cleaning with citric acid solution is practical maintenance. Dishwashers produce cleaner glassware with rinse-aid, and water heaters benefit from periodic inspection. City of Houston Water Department consistently delivers water meeting all Texas TCEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Mixed supply from the Houston regional infrastructure via the City of Houston Water Department — the Houston system blends Trinity River (Lake Livingston), San Jacinto River (Lake Conroe), and Brazos River surface water; the Coastal Prairie Gulf Coast Aquifer and Pleistocene Beaumont Formation calcareous clay contribute; moderately hard supply at 145 mg/L at the southwest Houston Alief distribution point.