Brenham Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
677.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.69
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 Brenham, your appliances are currently losing 35% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Brenham | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 4 yrs | 12 yrs | -67% |
| Water Heater | 5.2 yrs | 15 yrs | -65% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Brenham compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brenham, Texas | 259 mg/L | 8.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| College Station, Texas | 416.5 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Bryan, Texas | 374 mg/L | 11 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Katy, Texas | 363 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Cypress, Texas | 370.5 mg/L | 10.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Brenham compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Brenham | 259 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Brenham's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Brenham, Texas, in Washington County — the Washington County seat adjacent to Chappell Hill and Navasota in the east-central Texas Post Oak Belt between Houston and Austin — receives its municipal water from the Brenham Water Division, drawing from Lake Somerville (Yegua Creek, Burleson-Lee County) and local groundwater wells through the Brenham treatment system.
The very hard 259 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 677.3 mg/L reflect the east-central Texas Coastal Plain's calcareous character. Lake Somerville drains the Texas Coastal Plain — Cretaceous Taylor Group (calcareous chalk and marl — major hardness source), Eocene Yegua Formation (calcareous sand and clay), and Pleistocene Beaumont Formation (calcareous clay — additional hardness from the coastal prairie). The cumulative Cretaceous-Eocene calcareous and Pleistocene calcareous clay loading produces the very hard east-central Texas supply.
At 259 mg/L, Brenham's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on heating surfaces and appliances, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 8.6 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Washington County east-central Texas industrial corridor, Ellington Field (Harris County AFFF — in the Lake Somerville watershed drainage area), and the east Texas PFAS background contribute to Brenham's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Brenham in Washington County draws from the Brenham Water Division on Lake Somerville and local wells (Washington County, east-central Texas) — Lake Somerville drains the Texas Coastal Plain (Cretaceous Taylor Group calcareous, Eocene Yegua calcareous sand, Pleistocene Beaumont calcareous clay) — Texas Washington County Cretaceous-Eocene calcareous watershed produces very hard water at 259 mg/L with TDS 677.3 mg/L in this Washington County Texas city.