Fredericksburg Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
20.1 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
994.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.92
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 Fredericksburg, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Fredericksburg | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Fredericksburg compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fredericksburg, Texas | 344 mg/L | 0 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
| Kerrville, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 3.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Boerne, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 133.4 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
| Timberwood Park, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Canyon Lake, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 12.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Fredericksburg compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Fredericksburg | 344 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Fredericksburg's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County — the Gillespie County seat adjacent to Kerrville and Mason in the Texas Hill Country — receives its water from the Fredericksburg Water and Sewer Department, drawing from the Pedernales River and Edwards Aquifer wells through the south-central Texas distribution.
The extremely hard 344 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 994.2 mg/L reflect the Gillespie County Edwards Plateau supply's extreme calcareous-evaporitic character — the Cretaceous Edwards Limestone is a highly calcareous karst formation, while the Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation contains gypsum and anhydrite evaporite beds; deep Hill Country aquifer wells concentrate these evaporitic minerals to extreme levels (compare Kerrville TX: 337/975 in Kerr County comparable; Mason TX: 350/1013 in Mason County comparable; Fredericksburg consistent extremely hard from the same Gillespie County Pedernales River Edwards Plateau Cretaceous evaporitic supply). The Edwards Plateau supply — Cretaceous Edwards Limestone (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation (evaporitic — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Pedernales alluvium (evaporitic — TDS contributor).
At 344 mg/L with TDS 994, Fredericksburg's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 10.3 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review the Fredericksburg Water Department's annual report.
Geology & Source: Fredericksburg in Gillespie County draws from the Fredericksburg Water on the Pedernales River blend (Gillespie County, south Texas) — the Edwards Plateau draws from Cretaceous Edwards Limestone (highly calcareous) and Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation (evaporitic) — Texas Gillespie County Pedernales River Edwards Plateau Cretaceous evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 344 mg/L with TDS 994.2 mg/L.
Other Texas Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredericksburg's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Fredericksburg?
How does Fredericksburg compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Fredericksburg 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.