Athens Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
19.3 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
942.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.88
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 Athens, your appliances are currently losing 44% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Athens | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Athens compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Athens, Texas | 331 mg/L | 10.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Palestine, Texas | 222 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Tyler, Texas | 271 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Corsicana, Texas | 189.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Jacksonville, Texas | 420 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Athens compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Athens | 331 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Athens home
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What Makes Athens's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Athens, Texas, in Henderson County — the Henderson County seat adjacent to Tyler and Corsicana on Lake Athens in east Texas — receives its water from the City of Athens Water, drawing from Lake Athens or Lake Palestine (Henderson County) through the east Texas distribution.
The extremely hard 331 mg/L hardness and TDS of 942.5 mg/L place Athens among the hardest water communities in this dataset — the East Texas Basin's Cretaceous calcareous formations and deep Permian limestone contacts produce extremely hard water with near-Woodward-OK TDS levels, compounded by the semi-arid east Texas evaporative concentration. The Lake Athens watershed at Henderson County — Cretaceous Woodbine Formation (slightly calcareous — primary contributor from upper watershed), Permian calcareous limestone (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor from deep contacts), and Quaternary East Texas alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 331 mg/L with TDS 943, Athens' water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential to prevent severe scale damage. A reverse osmosis system is required for drinking water. The PFAS level of 10.1 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Henderson County east Texas industrial corridor contribute to Athens' elevated PFAS readings.
Geology & Source: Athens in Henderson County draws from the City of Athens Water on Lake Athens or Lake Palestine (Henderson County, east Texas) — the Neches River-Palestine watershed at Henderson County drains the East Texas Basin (Cretaceous Woodbine Formation — slightly calcareous) and Permian calcareous limestone (highly calcareous) — Texas Henderson County Lake Athens Cretaceous-Permian calcareous supply produces extremely hard water at 331 mg/L with TDS 942.5 mg/L.