Galveston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
25.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1365.1 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Galveston, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Galveston | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Galveston compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Galveston, Texas | 430.5 mg/L | 12.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Texas City, Texas | 342.5 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| La Marque, Texas | 178.5 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Dickinson, Texas | 207 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Santa Fe, Texas | 146 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Galveston compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Galveston | 430.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Galveston's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County on Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico — the 'Oleander City,' Texas' premier Victorian seaside resort and historic city (site of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in US history), home of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Moody Gardens, and a major Gulf of Mexico port — draws its municipal water supply from the Trinity River and Brazos River via the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) and the City of Galveston Water Utilities. Water hardness in Galveston measures 430.5 mg/L — classified as extremely hard.
Galveston's extraordinarily hard supply reflects the Texas Gulf Coast calcareous watershed concentration. The Trinity and Brazos River watersheds draining to the Gulf Coast Authority supply: the Texas Cretaceous calcareous formations (Cretaceous Austin Chalk — highly soluble, among the most calcareous formations in Texas; Cretaceous Taylor Marl and Eagle Ford Shale — marine calcareous formations); and the Gulf Coastal Plain Quaternary calcareous deposits (highly calcareous Pleistocene and Holocene calcareous marine and estuarine sediments). The GCWA supply through the Gulf Coast distribution infrastructure, combined with coastal concentration and minimal treatment softening, produces the extraordinary 430.5 mg/L at Galveston.
At 430.5 mg/L, Galveston residents face very severe hard water challenges. Scale deposits form extremely rapidly on all fixtures and appliances — weekly descaling and immediate appliance protection measures are strongly recommended. City of Galveston Water Utilities consistently delivers water meeting all Texas TCEQ and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: River supply from the Trinity River and Brazos River via the City of Galveston Water Utilities and the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) — the Galveston County Gulf Coast Texas Coastal Plain (Pleistocene calcareous coastal formation and Trinity–Brazos calcareous calcareous watershed); extremely hard supply at 430.5 mg/L — among the hardest municipal supplies in the United States, reflecting the Texas Gulf Coast calcareous coastal supply.