How does Cinco Ranch's water compare to the national average?

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

Cinco Ranch Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

mixed

pH Level

7.2

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

350 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 Cinco Ranch, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Cinco Ranch	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 Cinco Ranch compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Cinco Ranch, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	8.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Katy, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Mission Bend, Texas	28.4 mg/L	27.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Pecan Grove, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed
Four Corners, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	9.6 ppt	🟠 Hard	mixed

National Benchmark

How Cinco Ranch compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Cinco Ranch	≈ 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 Cinco Ranch's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 350 mg/LpH: 7.2

Cinco Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), including Cinco MUD No. 1, No. 10, and No. 12, managed by Inframark, supply potable water to neighborhoods in Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas, serving approximately 65,000 residents in Fort Bend and Waller Counties. The utility purchases groundwater from Cinco MUD No. 1, sourced from the Evangeline Aquifer. Treatment facilities operated by Inframark distribute water to areas including Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes, and Cross Creek Ranch. Inframark can be reached at (281) 579-4500 for service inquiries.

The Evangeline Aquifer, part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer System spanning southeastern Texas, consists of unconsolidated sands, gravels, silts, and interbedded clays deposited in a Miocene-Pliocene deltaic environment. Groundwater percolates through underlying limestone, chalk, and dolomite deposits, dissolving calcium and magnesium ions. This carbonate-rich geology imparts a characteristically hard character to the supply, with elevated mineral content resulting from prolonged subsurface contact with soluble carbonate sediments and no dilution from surface water sources.

Hard water in Cinco Ranch promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and faucets, potentially increasing energy costs by 20–30% and requiring frequent descaling. Regular vinegar flushes for appliances, installing sediment filters, and monitoring for white mineral residue are recommended maintenance steps. A water softener is strongly advised to extend equipment life. Independent analysis rates overall water quality C+, with an A for legal compliance but C for health guidelines; 10 contaminants are noted as exceeding health advocacy levels per that analysis.

Geology & Source: Evangeline Aquifer, Gulf Coast Aquifer System; Miocene-Pliocene unconsolidated sands, silts, and gravels with interbedded limestone, chalk, and dolomite — carbonate dissolution yields hard groundwater supply

Other Texas Water Reports

Katy

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Mission Bend

28.4 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Pecan Grove

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Four Corners

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cinco Ranch's water safe to drink?

Yes. Cinco Ranch'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 Cinco Ranch?

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

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