Plainview Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
21.4 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1084.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.98
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 Plainview, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Plainview | 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 Plainview compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Plainview, Texas | 366 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Lubbock, Texas | 324.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Canyon, Texas | 382 mg/L | 11.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Levelland, Texas | 247.5 mg/L | 8.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Hereford, Texas | 335.5 mg/L | 10.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Plainview compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Plainview | 366 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Plainview's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Plainview, Texas, in Hale County — the Hale County seat on the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains) of the Texas High Plains, a cotton-farming and beef cattle hub in the South Plains of the Texas Panhandle region — receives its municipal water from Plainview Water Utilities, which draws primarily from the Ogallala Aquifer through production wells across the Hale County High Plains plateau.
The extremely hard 366 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1084.2 mg/L place Plainview among the hardest and most mineral-laden municipal water supplies in this entire dataset — reflecting the extreme evaporite-rich geology of the southern High Plains. The Ogallala Aquifer in Hale County taps Pliocene and Miocene caliche-cemented sand and gravel sequences overlying the Cretaceous Washita Group (calcareous limestone and marl) and the Permian Blaine Formation (gypsum and anhydrite evaporite sequence). The Permian evaporite layers beneath the Ogallala in the southern High Plains are a primary source of elevated sulfate (from gypsum dissolution) and additional dissolved calcium, contributing to the extremely high TDS. The Llano Estacado's caliche hardpan (calcium carbonate-cemented) deposits further enrich recharging groundwater in dissolved calcium carbonate. The combination of Permian evaporite, Cretaceous carbonate, and caliche-cemented Ogallala deposits produces some of the most mineralized municipal groundwater in the United States.
At 366 mg/L with TDS 1084 mg/L, Plainview's water is extremely hard and high in dissolved minerals. Scale forms almost immediately on appliances, fixtures, and heating elements. A whole-house water softener is essential, and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration for drinking water is strongly recommended given the very high TDS (over twice the EPA aesthetic guideline of 500 mg/L). The PFAS level of 10.8 ppt is elevated and warrants a certified RO filter — the South Plains' agricultural chemical use, the Lubbock/Plainview corridor's military training legacy, and the High Plains' limited groundwater dilution capacity contribute to Hale County's PFAS reading.
Geology & Source: Plainview in Hale County draws from Plainview Water Utilities on the Ogallala Aquifer — the Hale County Ogallala taps Pliocene and Miocene sand and gravel with calcareous caliche cement overlying the Cretaceous Washita Group limestone and Blaine Gypsum evaporite sequence — evaporite-rich Ogallala and Cretaceous carbonate-gypsum aquifer produces extremely hard water at 366 mg/L with very high TDS 1084 mg/L in this Hale County Texas High Plains city.