Donna Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.7 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
710.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.72
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 Donna, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Donna | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.7 yrs | 12 yrs | -69% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Donna compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Donna, Texas | 268.5 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Weslaco, Texas | 247 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Alamo, Texas | 120 mg/L | 5.6 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| San Juan, Texas | 432.5 mg/L | 12.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pharr, Texas | 435.5 mg/L | 12.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Donna compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Donna | 268.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Donna home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Donna's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Donna, Texas, in Hidalgo County — a Hidalgo County city adjacent to Weslaco and Alamo in the lower Rio Grande Valley — receives its municipal water from the Donna Water Division, drawing from the Rio Grande River through the lower Rio Grande Valley irrigation canal and treatment system (Hidalgo County).
The very hard 268.5 mg/L hardness and elevated TDS of 710.4 mg/L reflect the lower Rio Grande Valley's intense calcareous character. The Rio Grande at Hidalgo County accumulates drainage from the Chihuahuan Desert — Cretaceous Tamaulipas Limestone (calcareous — major hardness source from Mexico's Sierra Madre Oriental), Permian Cupido Formation (very calcareous), and Chihuahuan Desert evaporitic minerals (calcium sulfate and halite). Donna is slightly softer than nearby Mercedes (402.5 mg/L) due to local dilution or different intake points on the same Rio Grande system.
At 268.5 mg/L, Donna'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 8.8 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the lower Rio Grande Valley PFAS background and the south Texas PFAS complex contribute to Donna's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Donna in Hidalgo County draws from the Donna Water Division on the Rio Grande (Hidalgo County, south Texas) — the Rio Grande at Hidalgo County drains the Sierra Madre Oriental (Cretaceous Tamaulipas Limestone, Permian Cupido calcareous, evaporitic Chihuahuan Desert minerals) — Texas Hidalgo County Rio Grande Cretaceous-Permian calcareous watershed produces very hard water at 268.5 mg/L with TDS 710.4 mg/L in this Hidalgo County Texas city.