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

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Arlington (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Arlington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

6.73

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.002 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

776.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · 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 Arlington, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Arlington	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Arlington compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Arlington, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	4.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Euless, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	53 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Hurst, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	80.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Grand Prairie, Texas	≈ 60–120 mg/L	435.7 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	reservoir
Bedford, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	160.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Arlington compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Arlington	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Arlington's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 776.5 mg/LpH: 6.73

Arlington's water is supplied by the City of Arlington Water Utilities Division, drawing from a combination of local reservoir sources and regional water authority supply. Lake Arlington — a reservoir on Village Creek, an East Fork Trinity River tributary within the city — and Lake Benbrook on the Clear Fork Trinity River southwest of Fort Worth provide direct surface water supply. Arlington also participates in the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) system, receiving blended supply from Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Bridgeport, and other TRWD reservoirs in the upper West Fork Trinity watershed. The Arlington Water Treatment Plant processes the blended supply from these multiple Trinity basin sources.

Arlington's very hard water at 287 mg/L reflects the carbonate geology of the upper Trinity River watershed that all its sources share. The Trinity tributaries drain through the Fort Worth Prairie and West Cross Timbers — a rolling terrain underlain by Cretaceous Paluxy Formation sandstone and Comanche Peak Limestone — and the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Formation sandstone and Eagle Ford Group marls and chalks. These Cretaceous marine formations were deposited 95–112 million years ago in the warm Western Interior Seaway and contain high calcium carbonate content. Arlington draws from the same watershed geology as Fort Worth and Dallas, explaining the similarly high hardness values across the DFW metroplex.

Arlington households face the same hard-water challenges common across DFW — thick white scale on all water-exposed surfaces forming rapidly, poor soap and shampoo lather, dishwasher spotting, and reduced appliance lifespan without maintenance. A whole-house water softener is the standard practical upgrade for Arlington homes, and the Tarrant Regional Water District provides educational resources on hard-water appliance protection. Descaling water heaters annually and maintaining showerhead vinegar soaks monthly are minimum routine measures to prevent premature fixture and appliance failures in this very hard water environment.

Geology & Source: Lake Arlington and Lake Benbrook on upper Trinity River over Cretaceous Paluxy Formation sandstone and Comanche Peak Limestone — very hard carbonate reservoir supply

Hardness Varies Across Arlington — Find Your Area

City average is ≈ 120–179 mg/L. Individual ZIP areas differ.

* ZIP code estimates are derived from the city-wide measurement. Actual readings may vary slightly by neighbourhood.

ZIP Code	Neighbourhood	Hardness (mg/L)	Risk Level
76001	South Arlington	≈ 149	🟠 Hard
76012	West Arlington	≈ 149	🟠 Hard
76016	West Arlington South	≈ 149	🟠 Hard
76002	Southeast Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76006	Central Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76011	East Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76013	West Central Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76015	Southwest Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76017	South Arlington	≈ 150	🟠 Hard
76010	Central Arlington East	≈ 151	🟠 Hard
76014	Central East Arlington	≈ 151	🟠 Hard
76018	Southeast Arlington South	≈ 151	🟠 Hard

Other Texas Water Reports

Euless

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Hurst

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Grand Prairie

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Bedford

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 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 Arlington's water safe to drink?

Yes. Arlington's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Arlington?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Arlington'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 20%.

How does Arlington compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Arlington (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Arlington 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.