How does Paris's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Paris (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L softer than average.

Paris Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

hard

~120–179 mg/L

Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.3

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

712.1 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.40

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

hard~120–179 mg/LHard · est.

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 Paris, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Paris	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Paris compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Paris, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Sulphur Springs, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Bonham, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.9 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Greenville, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	76.8 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Mount Pleasant, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	6.6 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Paris compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Paris	≈ 120–179 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Paris's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 712.1 mg/LpH: 8.3

The City of Paris Water Utility serves Paris, Texas (Lamar County) through conventional surface water treatment. The utility operates a water treatment facility using surface water sources drawn from the Red River Basin and employs chloramines as the primary disinfectant. Service is provided to the city and surrounding areas via the municipal distribution system. Water quality is rated 80/100 with zero EPA violations recorded since 2023, and lead levels are compliant at 0.0013 mg/L, well below the EPA action level of 15 µg/L.

Paris's water supply originates from surface sources within the Red River Basin of northeast Texas. The watershed drains terrain underlain by Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks, including limestone and sandstone formations that naturally dissolve calcium and magnesium into the water column. This geological setting is typical of the region and results in a characteristically hard water supply, with elevated mineral content contributed by carbonate rock dissolution across the northeast Texas drainage area.

Hard water causes scale buildup in water heaters, kettles, dishwashers, and pipes over time, reducing efficiency and shortening appliance lifespan. Soap and detergent efficiency is reduced, and mineral deposits accumulate on fixtures. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing infrastructure and extend appliance life, particularly for water heaters and dishwashers. Regular descaling of fixtures and appliances is advisable without treatment. The utility employs conventional treatment methods followed by chloramine disinfection to maintain microbiological safety and regulatory compliance throughout the distribution system.

Geology & Source: Red River Basin, northeast Texas; Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary formations — limestone and sandstone layers dissolve calcium and magnesium — characteristically hard water supply

Other Texas Water Reports

Sulphur Springs

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Bonham

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Greenville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Mount Pleasant

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paris's water safe to drink?

Yes. Paris's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Paris?

At ≈ 120–179 mg/L (Hard), Paris's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Paris compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Paris (≈ 120–179 mg/L) is 1 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Paris is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.