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

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

Bedford Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

433.3 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 Bedford, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Bedford	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 Bedford compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Bedford, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	160.2 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Hurst, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	80.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Colleyville, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	78.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Euless, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	53 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
North Richland Hills, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	139.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Bedford compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Bedford	≈ 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 Bedford's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 433.3 mg/LpH: 8.1

City of Bedford Water Utilities serves approximately 49,900 residents in Bedford, Texas, within Tarrant County. Water is sourced primarily from Lake Arlington via the Trinity River Authority's Tarrant County Water Supply Project, supplemented by two local groundwater wells. The utility holds a Superior Public Water Supply designation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), treating supply to meet both primary and secondary standards. Residents can reach the utility at 817-952-2108 or via bedfordtx.gov.

Lake Arlington lies within the Trinity River watershed in the Fort Worth Prairie ecoregion, underlain by Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Trinity Group — including the Glen Rose Limestone and Paluxy Sandstone — which weather to release alkaline earth metals, producing a hard supply prone to mineral accumulation. Groundwater wells access the Trinity Aquifer, a porous sandstone and limestone system recharged by regional precipitation and river infiltration, which adds further dissolved solids. This geology shapes a moderately mineralized character throughout the blended supply.

Bedford's hard water promotes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan while increasing energy costs. Periodic vinegar descaling, sediment filter installation, and annual heater flushing help manage deposits. A water softener is recommended to improve soap efficiency and prevent dry skin. Third-party analysis notes 2 contaminants — arsenic and nitrate — above health guidelines, linked respectively to natural geology and agricultural runoff; no EPA violations are on record. The system uses chlorine disinfection and treats to secondary standards for taste and odor.

Geology & Source: Lake Arlington in Trinity River watershed; Cretaceous Trinity Group — Glen Rose Limestone and Paluxy Sandstone — release alkaline earth metals yielding hard surface water; supplemental Trinity Aquifer wells add further dissolved solids from porous

Other Texas Water Reports

Hurst

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Colleyville

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Euless

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

North Richland Hills

≈ 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 Bedford's water safe to drink?

Yes. Bedford'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 Bedford?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Bedford'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 Bedford compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Bedford (≈ 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 Bedford 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.