South Houston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
15.7 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
712.2 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.72
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 South Houston, your appliances are currently losing 36% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In South Houston | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -70% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How South Houston compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ South Houston, Texas | 269 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pasadena, Texas | 301 mg/L | 9.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Pearland, Texas | 346 mg/L | 10.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Deer Park, Texas | 146 mg/L | 6.2 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Cloverleaf, Texas | 368.5 mg/L | 10.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How South Houston compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ South Houston | 269 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes South Houston's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
South Houston, Texas, in Harris County — a Harris County city adjacent to Pasadena and Deer Park in the southeast Houston metro near the Houston Ship Channel — receives its municipal water from the City of South Houston Utilities, drawing from the Trinity River or the Gulf Coast Aquifer (Harris County) through the South Houston treatment plant.
The extremely hard 269 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 712.2 mg/L reflect the southeast Houston area's intense Gulf Coast calcareous supply character — similar to other Harris County supply readings. The Gulf Coast Aquifer and Trinity River at Houston drain the Cretaceous Austin Chalk and Eagleford Shale (calcareous), Eocene Yegua Formation (calcareous coastal sand-shale), and the Gulf Coast Plain calcareous Quaternary deposits. The cumulative Cretaceous-Eocene-Quaternary carbonate loading produces the extremely hard, high-TDS water of the southeast Houston corridor.
At 269 mg/L with TDS 712, South Houston's water is extremely hard. A water softener is essential. Scale builds immediately on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are severely shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 8.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Houston Ship Channel petrochemical complex (the largest industrial PFAS source complex in Texas), Ellington Field (AFFF), and the Harris County industrial PFAS complex produce South Houston's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: South Houston in Harris County draws from the City of South Houston Utilities on the Houston Ship Channel area supply (Harris County) — the Houston area water draws from the Trinity River and local wells (Cretaceous Austin Chalk, Eocene Yegua Formation calcareous, Gulf Coast Aquifer calcareous) — Texas Harris County Gulf Coast Cretaceous-Eocene calcareous watershed produces extremely hard water at 269 mg/L with TDS 712.2 mg/L in this Harris County Texas city.