Jacksonville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
24.5 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.009 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1317.4 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 Jacksonville, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Jacksonville | 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 Jacksonville compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville, Texas | 420 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Tyler, Texas | 271 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Palestine, Texas | 222 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Henderson, Texas | 219 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Kilgore, Texas | 430 mg/L | 12.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Jacksonville compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Jacksonville | 420 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Jacksonville's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Jacksonville, Texas, in Cherokee County — the Cherokee County seat adjacent to Kilgore and Rusk in the East Texas Oilfield — receives its municipal water from the Jacksonville Water Division, drawing from local reservoirs and groundwater (Cherokee County) through the east Texas water treatment system.
The extremely hard 420 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1317.4 mg/L are nearly identical to Kilgore (430 mg/L, TDS 1362) — confirming the East Texas Oilfield's extreme calcareous and saline groundwater contamination affecting the entire Gregg-Cherokee County corridor. The Cherokee County watershed receives input from the East Texas Basin — deep Permian oilfield brine intrusion (halite and gypsum — dominant TDS contributor from East Texas Basin Permian evaporitic water), Eocene Claiborne Group (calcareous — primary surface hardness contributor), and Cretaceous Austin Chalk (calcareous — secondary). The Permian oilfield brine mixing and Eocene calcareous input produce the extreme East Texas supply.
At 420 mg/L with TDS 1317, Jacksonville's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential, and a reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking water. Scale accumulates extremely rapidly and appliances fail quickly without treatment. The PFAS level of 11.9 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis filter — the East Texas Oilfield industrial corridor PFAS and the Cherokee County industrial complex contribute.
Geology & Source: Jacksonville in Cherokee County draws from the Jacksonville Water Division on local East Texas reservoirs and groundwater (Cherokee County, east Texas) — the watershed receives drainage from the East Texas Embayment (Eocene Claiborne Group calcareous, deep Permian saline brine intrusion from East Texas Basin oil fields) — Texas Cherokee County East Texas Embayment calcareous-evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 420 mg/L with TDS 1317.4 mg/L.