Horizon City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
22.1 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1132.2 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 Horizon City, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Horizon City | 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 Horizon City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Horizon City, Texas | 377.5 mg/L | 11 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Socorro Mission Number 1 Colonia, Texas | 353 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Socorro, Texas | 352 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| El Paso, Texas | 407 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Chaparral, New Mexico | 407 mg/L | 4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Horizon City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Horizon City | 377.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your Horizon City home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes Horizon City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Horizon City, Texas, in El Paso County — an El Paso County city east of El Paso in the Chihuahuan Desert basin, in the rapidly growing east El Paso suburban corridor adjacent to the Fort Bliss expansion zone — receives its municipal water from El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) or local Horizon City Water, drawing from the Rio Grande system and the Hueco Bolson Aquifer in the El Paso-Horizon City corridor.
The very hard 377.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1132.2 mg/L reflect El Paso's extreme Chihuahuan Desert water chemistry. The Rio Grande at El Paso flows through the Chihuahuan Desert — draining the Permian Reef complex (Guadalupe Mountains — nearly pure limestone), the Permian Basin evaporite terrain (gypsum, anhydrite, halite), and the Paleozoic carbonate platform of southern New Mexico-west Texas. The Hueco Bolson (the primary regional aquifer) is a closed desert basin aquifer where ancient and modern recharge concentrates calcium, magnesium, sulfate, and sodium through minimal drainage and high evaporation, producing the extreme TDS characteristic of Chihuahuan Desert basin groundwater.
At 377.5 mg/L with TDS 1132 mg/L, Horizon City's water is very hard with very high TDS. A whole-house water softener is essential and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration for drinking and cooking is strongly recommended — TDS of 1132 mg/L is triple the EPA aesthetic guideline. The PFAS level of 11.0 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Fort Bliss (El Paso — one of the US Army's largest installations, a major AFFF user in the Hueco Bolson-Rio Grande watershed) is the primary documented PFAS source in the Horizon City supply area.
Geology & Source: Horizon City in El Paso County draws from the El Paso Water Utilities or Horizon City Water on the Rio Grande (EPWU system) and the Hueco Bolson Aquifer (El Paso County desert basin alluvial) — the Rio Grande at El Paso drains the Chihuahuan Desert (Permian Reef limestone, Paleozoic evaporite); the Hueco Bolson concentrates minerals in the closed Chihuahuan Basin — extremely hard water at 377.5 mg/L with very high TDS 1132 mg/L in this El Paso County Texas city.