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Friendswood Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

378.5mg/L
Very Hard

22.1 grains per gallon

Source

mixed

pH Level

8.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

1136.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$1.00

energy & soap waste

Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026

378.5mg/L as CaCO₃Very Hard

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 Friendswood, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

ApplianceIn FriendswoodSoft Water CityEfficiency Loss
Kettle
1.5 yrs
8.5 yrs-82%
Washing Machine
3 yrs
12 yrs-75%
Water Heater
5 yrs
15 yrs-67%
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Regional Water Comparison

How Friendswood compares to its nearest neighbours

CityHardnessPFAS (ppt)RiskSource
Friendswood, Texas378.5 mg/L11.1 ppt🔴 Very Hardmixed
Pearland, Texas346 mg/L10.4 ppt🔴 Very Hardmixed
League City, Texas417.5 mg/L11.9 ppt🔴 Very Hardmixed
Alvin, Texas194 mg/L7.2 ppt🔴 Very Hardmixed
South Houston, Texas269 mg/L8.8 ppt🔴 Very Hardmixed

National Benchmark

How Friendswood compares to the USA average

BenchmarkHardnessAppliance Risk
Friendswood378.5 mg/L🔴 High
USA National Avg150 mg/L🟠 Moderate
Badger Top Rated8.5 mg/L🟢 None

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What Makes Friendswood's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: MixedTDS: 1136.5 mg/LpH: 8.5

Friendswood, Texas, in Galveston and Harris Counties southeast of Houston — a major southeast Houston suburban community, a historically Quaker-founded community (the Society of Friends — Quakers — established Friendswood in 1895, making it one of the few Quaker-founded Texas communities), a rapidly growing and affluent southeast Houston suburb adjacent to League City and Pearland, and a diverse Galveston–Harris County community in the greater Houston area — draws its municipal water supply from the Gulf Coast Aquifer via the City of Friendswood Water Division. Water hardness in Friendswood measures 378.5 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.

Friendswood's extremely hard supply — among the hardest in Texas — reflects the Gulf Coast Aquifer's extreme calcareous hardness in southeast Houston. The Chicot and Evangeline Aquifer system at Friendswood–southeast Houston draws from: the Pleistocene–Pliocene calcareous Gulf Coast alluvial deposits (the Beaumont Clay and Montgomery Formation — calcareous marine and fluvial deposits with abundant calcareous shell hash and calcareous cement); and the Evangeline Aquifer (Pliocene–Miocene calcareous Gulf Coast sediment). The Gulf Coast Aquifer in southeast Houston is among the most calcareous aquifer zones in Texas, producing the extreme 378.5 mg/L.

At 378.5 mg/L, Friendswood residents face severe hard water challenges. Weekly descaling and appliance protection measures are strongly recommended. City of Friendswood Water Division consistently delivers water meeting all Texas TCEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer (Chicot and Evangeline Aquifers) via the City of Friendswood Water Division — the Galveston–Harris County southeast Texas Gulf Coastal Plain (Pleistocene–Pliocene calcareous Gulf Coast Formation — the highly calcareous Gulf Coast Aquifer of southeast Texas; Chicot Aquifer calcareous alluvial hardness); extremely hard supply at 378.5 mg/L — reflecting the Gulf Coast Aquifer's extreme calcareous hardness in the Friendswood zone.

Other Texas Water Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Friendswood's water safe to drink?
Yes. Friendswood's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 378.5 mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.
Do I need a water softener in Friendswood?
At 378.5 mg/L (Very Hard), Friendswood'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 45%.
How does Friendswood compare to the USA average?
The USA national average is 150 mg/L. Friendswood at 378.5 mg/L is 229 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Badger at just 8.5 mg/L.
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