Henderson Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.8 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
544 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.58
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 Henderson, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Henderson | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -72% |
| Washing Machine | 5.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -54% |
| Water Heater | 6.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Henderson compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Henderson, Texas | 219 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Kilgore, Texas | 430 mg/L | 12.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Longview, Texas | 351.5 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Jacksonville, Texas | 420 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Tyler, Texas | 271 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Henderson compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Henderson | 219 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Henderson's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Henderson, Texas, in Rusk County — the Rusk County seat adjacent to Kilgore and Longview in east Texas — receives its water from Henderson Water Utilities, drawing from Lake Forest or the Sabine River watershed (Rusk County) through the east Texas distribution.
The very hard 219 mg/L hardness and TDS of 544 mg/L reflect the east Texas Rusk County supply's very hard calcareous character — reflecting the East Texas Basin's Cretaceous Woodbine and Tertiary Wilcox calcareous formations that yield significant hardness, elevated by the historic petroleum district's subsurface mineral contributions from the deep East Texas oil field sediment contact zones. The Rusk County watershed — Cretaceous Woodbine Formation (slightly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Tertiary Wilcox Formation (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary East Texas alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 219 mg/L with TDS 544, Henderson's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended to prevent rapid scale buildup. A reverse osmosis system is advisable for drinking water. The PFAS level of 7.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Rusk County east Texas petroleum-industrial corridor and legacy oil field sites contribute to Henderson's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Henderson in Rusk County draws from the Henderson Water Utilities on Lake Forest or the Sabine River (Rusk County, east Texas) — the Sabine watershed at Rusk County drains the East Texas Basin (Cretaceous Woodbine Formation — slightly calcareous) and Tertiary Wilcox Formation (slightly calcareous) — Texas Rusk County Sabine River East Texas Basin Cretaceous-Tertiary calcareous supply produces very hard water at 219 mg/L with TDS 544 mg/L.