Alief Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

City of Houston Public Works supplies water to Alief, Texas, an unincorporated community in southwestern Harris County fully within Houston's municipal service area, serving over 2.3 million customers. Primary surface water sources include the Trinity River, San Jacinto River, and Lake Livingston, supplemented by groundwater from the Evangeline and Chicot Aquifer well fields. Treatment occurs at facilities including the East Water Purification Plant and North Water Purification Plant before distribution across the greater Houston area.

The supply originates in the Trinity–San Jacinto watershed, which drains into Galveston Bay, with Lake Livingston impounded on the Trinity River as a key reservoir. Groundwater from the Chicot and Evangeline Aquifers forms part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer System, composed of Tertiary and Quaternary sands, clays, and gravels overlying older Miocene sediments. The region's limestone-rich geology — including influences from the Cockfield Formation — dissolves calcium and magnesium into the supply, yielding a hard character with elevated mineral content from both aquifer recharge and surface runoff interactions.

Hard water in Houston causes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and shortening appliance lifespan. Soap scum on fixtures, dry skin and hair, and spotting on glassware are common. Regular descaling, drain screens, and vinegar soaks for showerheads help mitigate deposits; a water softener is recommended to prevent mineral accumulation and improve soap efficiency. The 2022 Consumer Confidence Report shows pH averaging 7.71; chlorine disinfection is standard and may cause occasional taste/odor issues. Trihalomethanes are detected but stay below MCLs; TDS measures around 278 ppm.