Alton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
11 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
451.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.50
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 Alton, your appliances are currently losing 25% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Alton | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -60% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8 yrs | 15 yrs | -47% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Alton compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alton, Texas | 189 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Mission, Texas | 172.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| McAllen, Texas | 266 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Edinburg, Texas | 140 mg/L | 6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Pharr, Texas | 435.5 mg/L | 12.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Alton compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Alton | 189 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Alton home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Alton's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Alton, Texas, in Hidalgo County — a Hidalgo County city adjacent to McAllen and Mission in the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas — receives its municipal water from a local water utility, drawing from the Rio Grande (Hidalgo County) or blended Rio Grande-groundwater through the lower Valley water treatment system.
The hard 189 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 451.2 mg/L reflect the lower Rio Grande Valley supply's intense calcareous and evaporitic character — consistent with other McAllen metro communities. The Rio Grande at Hidalgo County drains the Chihuahuan Desert — Cretaceous Del Carmen Limestone (calcareous — high hardness contributor), Permian Yeso Formation (evaporitic gypsum — major TDS contributor), and Permian Artesia Group (evaporitic). The concentrated Cretaceous calcareous and Permian evaporitic loading from the Chihuahuan watershed produces the hard lower Rio Grande supply.
At 189 mg/L, Alton's water is hard — scale builds steadily in kettles and appliances, dishwashers benefit from rinse aid, and water heaters should be descaled annually. Monthly descaling is recommended. The PFAS level of 7.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Hidalgo County lower Rio Grande Valley agricultural chemical corridor and the Texas-Mexico border PFAS background from industrial and agricultural sources contribute to Alton's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Alton in Hidalgo County draws from a local utility on the Rio Grande or mixed wells (Hidalgo County, south Texas) — the Rio Grande at Hidalgo County drains the Chihuahuan Desert (Cretaceous Del Carmen Limestone, Permian Yeso evaporitic — calcareous and evaporitic) — Texas Hidalgo County Rio Grande Chihuahuan Desert calcareous-evaporitic watershed produces hard water at 189 mg/L with TDS 451.2 mg/L in this Hidalgo County Texas city.