College Station Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
0.5 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.01 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1301.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.02
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 College Station, your appliances are currently losing 1% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In College Station | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 9.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 13.3 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 15.3 yrs | 15 yrs | — |
Regional Water Comparison
How College Station compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ College Station, Texas | 8.07 mg/L | 24.1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Bryan, Texas | 7.79 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Brenham, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 118.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Huntsville, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 327 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Tomball, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🟠 Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How College Station compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ College Station | 8.07 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes College Station's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The City of College Station Utilities Department supplies drinking water to College Station, Texas, in Brazos County, serving over 120,000 residents including students at Texas A&M University. Water is sourced entirely from groundwater via eight deep wells in the Simsboro Aquifer and additional wells in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, pumped from depths exceeding 2,000 feet. There are no surface water treatment plants; water is treated minimally at wellheads before distribution through storage tanks and pipelines. Nearby Bryan shares similar aquifer access but operates its own utility.
The supply originates from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer system spanning Eocene sandstones and shales. Water travels through these deep formations, dissolving sodium chloride salts rather than calcium or magnesium from limestone, producing very soft water with elevated sodium and total dissolved solids around 550 ppm. This geology ensures naturally filtered, pathogen-free water due to extended underground residence, and the system is rated a Superior Water System by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Very soft water minimizes scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and appliances, extending their lifespan with little maintenance required. Soap and shampoo lather easily and rinse cleanly, requiring less product for showers and laundry — no soap scum forms. A water softener is not recommended and could exacerbate sodium levels unnecessarily; occasional pipe flushing if sediment appears is sufficient. Water maintains a pH around 8.5 with a chlorine residual of 0.5–5.0 ppm for disinfection. It complies fully with the Safe Drinking Water Act, with 90th-percentile lead at 1.12 ppb (action level 15 ppb) and copper at 0.116 ppm (action level 1.3 ppm); no PFAS data is noted and no bacteria or pathogens have been detected.
Geology & Source: Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer system (Simsboro Aquifer) — Eocene sandstones, gravel, and clay at depths to 3,000 ft; dissolves sodium chloride rather than calcium/magnesium; very soft supply dominated by sodium
Other Texas Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is College Station's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in College Station?
How does College Station compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for College Station is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.