Katy Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
21.2 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1071.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.97
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 Katy, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Katy | 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 Katy compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Katy, Texas | 363 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Cinco Ranch, Texas | 276 mg/L | 8.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Mission Bend, Texas | 173 mg/L | 6.7 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Pecan Grove, Texas | 362 mg/L | 10.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Four Corners, Texas | 311.5 mg/L | 9.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Katy compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Katy | 363 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Katy's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Katy, Texas, in Harris County — a Harris County city adjacent to Cinco Ranch and Fulshear in the west Houston metro — receives its municipal water from the Katy Water Division and Newland Communities Utilities, drawing from the Gulf Coast Aquifer (Katy Prairie area) and the Brazos River through the west Houston water treatment facilities.
The extremely hard 363 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,071.4 mg/L reflect the west Houston Gulf Coast Aquifer and Brazos River supply's intense calcareous and evaporitic character. The Gulf Coast Aquifer at Katy is developed in Pleistocene Beaumont Formation (calcareous clay — heavily mineralized by the west Texas Permian detritus), Pliocene Willis Formation (calcareous sand). The Brazos River further adds Permian evaporitic and calcareous redbed loading (gypsum, halite, calcium carbonate from the central Texas Permian Basin). The combined aquifer-river loading produces the very high hardness and TDS.
At 363 mg/L with TDS 1,071, Katy's water is extremely hard. A water softener is absolutely essential. Scale forms immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are critically shortened, and water heaters fail within 2 years without treatment. The PFAS level of 10.7 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Ellington Field (Harris County — AFFF), the west Houston industrial corridor, and the Gulf Coast PFAS complex contribute to Katy's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Katy in Harris County draws from the Katy Aquifer and Brazos River (Harris County, west Houston metro) — the Gulf Coast Aquifer at Katy is developed in Pleistocene Beaumont Formation (calcareous clay) over Pliocene Willis calcareous sand; the Brazos drains Permian evaporitic and calcareous redbeds — Texas Harris County Gulf Coast Aquifer-Brazos Permian calcareous supply produces extremely hard water at 363 mg/L with TDS 1071.4 mg/L in this Harris County Texas city.