Live Oak Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.2 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
622.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.65
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 Live Oak, your appliances are currently losing 32% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Live Oak | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -81% |
| Washing Machine | 4.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -62% |
| Water Heater | 5.9 yrs | 15 yrs | -61% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Live Oak compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Live Oak, Texas | 243 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Universal City, Texas | 322.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Converse, Texas | 126.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Schertz, Texas | 189.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Cibolo, Texas | 273 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Live Oak compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Live Oak | 243 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Live Oak's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Live Oak, Texas, in Bexar County — a Bexar County city adjacent to Converse and Universal City in the northeast San Antonio metro — receives its water from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), drawing from the Edwards Aquifer (Cretaceous karstic limestone, Bexar County) and Canyon Lake (Guadalupe River) through the San Antonio distribution.
The very hard 243 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 622.5 mg/L reflect the central Texas Edwards Aquifer's intensely karstic Cretaceous limestone character — consistent with other SAWS-served San Antonio communities (San Antonio: ~238 mg/L; Converse: ~245 mg/L). The Edwards Aquifer at Bexar County is developed in Cretaceous Edwards Limestone (highly calcareous, karstic — primary hardness contributor), Cretaceous Georgetown Formation (calcareous), and Cretaceous Del Rio Clay (slightly calcareous). The karstic Edwards Limestone produces the very hard San Antonio metro supply.
At 243 mg/L with TDS 623, Live Oak's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 8.2 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — Joint Base San Antonio (Randolph AFB, Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston — AFFF, the dominant San Antonio PFAS sources, all within or adjacent to Bexar County) contribute significantly to Live Oak's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: Live Oak in Bexar County draws from San Antonio Water System on the Edwards Aquifer and Canyon Lake (Bexar County, south-central Texas) — the Edwards is developed in Cretaceous Edwards Limestone (highly calcareous, karstic) and Cretaceous Georgetown Formation — Texas Bexar County Edwards Aquifer Cretaceous karstic limestone produces very hard water at 243 mg/L with TDS 622.5 mg/L.