Hidalgo Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
20.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
996 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.92
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 Hidalgo, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Hidalgo | 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 Hidalgo compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hidalgo, Texas | 344.5 mg/L | 10.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| McAllen, Texas | 266 mg/L | 8.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pharr, Texas | 435.5 mg/L | 12.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Mission, Texas | 172.5 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| San Juan, Texas | 432.5 mg/L | 12.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Hidalgo compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Hidalgo | 344.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Hidalgo's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Hidalgo, Texas, in Hidalgo County — a Hidalgo County city adjacent to McAllen and Edinburg on the Rio Grande in the south Texas Rio Grande Valley — receives its water from the Hidalgo Water Works, drawing from the Rio Grande (Hidalgo County) through the south Texas Rio Grande Valley distribution.
The extremely hard 344.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 996 mg/L make Hidalgo one of the hardest water cities in this dataset — reflecting the Rio Grande's extreme mineral concentration accumulated from the Cretaceous Edwards Plateau limestone watershed and the Chihuahuan Desert evaporitic terrain, with additional concentration from irrigation return flows in the Rio Grande Valley agricultural corridor. The Rio Grande at Hidalgo County — Cretaceous Edwards Limestone (highly calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Tertiary evaporitic formations (evaporitic — primary TDS contributor), and Quaternary Rio Grande Valley alluvium (calcareous-evaporitic — secondary contributor).
At 344.5 mg/L with TDS 996, Hidalgo's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential to prevent rapid and severe scale damage. A reverse osmosis system is strongly required for drinking water. The PFAS level of 10.3 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Hidalgo County south Texas Rio Grande Valley military-agricultural corridor and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (Nueces County — AFFF, regional) contribute to Hidalgo's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Hidalgo in Hidalgo County draws from the Hidalgo Water Works on the Rio Grande (Hidalgo County, south Texas Rio Grande Valley) — the Rio Grande at Hidalgo County drains the Sierra Madre Oriental (Cretaceous Edwards Limestone — highly calcareous) and Tertiary evaporitic formations of the Chihuahuan Desert — Texas Hidalgo County Rio Grande Edwards Limestone-evaporitic watershed produces extremely hard water at 344.5 mg/L with TDS 996 mg/L.