Garland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

The City of Garland, Texas receives its water supply from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), a regional wholesale supplier. Water is sourced from five surface reservoirs — Lavon Lake, Jim Chapman Lake, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texoma, and the East Fork Raw Water Supply Project — and treated at one of NTMWD's six water treatment plants. Treated water is distributed to Garland's storage network of eight ground storage tanks and three elevated storage tanks, serving multiple zip codes across the Dallas metropolitan area.

Garland's water originates in the Trinity River watershed, draining through north-central Texas geology dominated by Cretaceous limestone and marl formations. These carbonate-rich rock layers dissolve readily in water, releasing calcium and magnesium ions that create the characteristically hard supply of the region. The surface-water sources and underlying Cretaceous geological setting combine to produce a naturally hard water supply with a pH range of 7.6 to 8.3 (average 8.0), indicating slightly alkaline conditions typical of limestone-influenced supplies.

Hard water causes visible scale buildup on fixtures, reduced soap and detergent effectiveness, and accelerated wear in water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. A water softener is recommended for households seeking to reduce scale formation, extend appliance lifespan, and improve cleaning efficiency, though hardness does not affect water safety. The North Texas Municipal Water District performs over 1,000 tests daily; recent analysis detected lead at a 90th percentile of 3.88 ppb (below the 15 ppb action level), chromium-6 at approximately 91.2 parts per trillion, and disinfection byproducts including TTHMs at 36 ppb and HAA5 at 25 ppb.