Lakeway Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.9 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
915.4 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.86
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 Lakeway, your appliances are currently losing 43% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Lakeway | 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 Lakeway compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lakeway, Texas | 324 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Cedar Park, Texas | 414 mg/L | 11.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Jollyville, Texas | 180 mg/L | 6.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Leander, Texas | 419.5 mg/L | 11.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| University of Texas, Texas | 327 mg/L | 10 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Lakeway compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Lakeway | 324 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Lakeway's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Lakeway, Texas, in Travis County — a Travis County city on Lake Travis adjacent to Austin and Bee Cave in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin — receives its water from the West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA), drawing from Lake Travis and the Colorado River (Travis County) through the Hill Country distribution.
The extremely hard 324 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 915.4 mg/L reflect the central Texas Hill Country Lake Travis supply's extreme Cretaceous-Permian calcareous-evaporitic character — consistent with other Travis County Edwards Plateau communities and similar to the Hewitt-Waco corridor (328.5 mg/L). The Lake Travis-Colorado River watershed at Travis County drains the Texas Hill Country — Cretaceous Edwards Plateau Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation (calcareous), and Permian evaporitic Red Bed gypsiferous formations from the upper Colorado drainage (gypsum — primary TDS contributor).
At 324 mg/L with TDS 915, Lakeway's water is extremely hard. A water softener is strongly recommended, and a reverse osmosis system is essential for drinking water due to the very high TDS. Scale builds very rapidly on all surfaces and appliances. The PFAS level of 9.9 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Bergstrom Airport (Travis County — AFFF) and the Austin metro Travis County corridor contribute to Lakeway's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Lakeway in Travis County draws from the West Travis County Public Utility Agency on Lake Travis (Travis County, central Texas Hill Country) — Lake Travis drains the Texas Hill Country (Cretaceous Edwards Plateau Limestone — calcareous) and receives Permian evaporitic West Texas input via the Colorado River — Texas Travis County Lake Travis Cretaceous-Permian calcareous-evaporitic produces extremely hard water at 324 mg/L with TDS 915.4 mg/L.