Edinburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
~120–179 mg/L
Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
reservoir
pH Level
7.8
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.003 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
311.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.40
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 Edinburg, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Edinburg | 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 Edinburg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Edinburg, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 112.5 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Pharr, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 16.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| San Juan, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 154.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| McAllen, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 47.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Alamo, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 36.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Edinburg compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Edinburg | ≈ 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 Edinburg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The City of Edinburg, in Hidalgo County, Texas, operates a municipal water utility serving approximately 85,224 people. The primary source is the Rio Grande River, with the city owning and operating a raw water reservoir at 3420 W. Freddy Gonzalez Drive with a capacity of 210 million gallons — a 19-day supply. Additional raw water is purchased from Hidalgo County Irrigation District #1 (HCID #1) and Hidalgo County Irrigation District #2 (HCID #2), totaling 7,981.32 acre-feet of water rights. Water is treated using conventional filtration and disinfected with chloramines and chlorine dioxide.
The Rio Grande Valley's hydrogeology is characterized by Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary sediments. The Rio Grande itself carries water influenced by limestone and mineral-bearing rock formations throughout its upstream watershed, particularly in New Mexico and Colorado, contributing to the naturally mineralized character of the supply. This geological setting yields moderately hard water reflecting the mineral content typical of southwestern river systems, without conditions that support soft water.
At a moderately hard level, residents typically experience scale buildup on fixtures, reduced soap lathering, and effects on appliance longevity over time. Water softening is recommended, particularly for households with high usage or sensitive appliances, and regular maintenance of water heaters and plumbing fixtures is advisable. The utility has reported 21 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs) and 2 Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violations; third-party testing found exceedances for arsenic, a naturally occurring contaminant. Annual reports are posted per Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations.
Geology & Source: Rio Grande Valley — Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying Tertiary sediments; Rio Grande carries limestone-influenced water from upstream New Mexico and Colorado formations, producing moderately hard supply
Other Texas Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edinburg's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Edinburg?
How does Edinburg compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Edinburg 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.