Sweetwater Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
7.6 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.7
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
286.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.35
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 Sweetwater, your appliances are currently losing 17% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Sweetwater | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 5.3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -38% |
| Washing Machine | 8.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -27% |
| Water Heater | 10.4 yrs | 15 yrs | -31% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Sweetwater compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sweetwater, Texas | 130.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Snyder, Texas | 350.5 mg/L | 10.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Abilene, Texas | 427 mg/L | 12.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| San Angelo, Texas | 221.5 mg/L | 7.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Big Spring, Texas | 213 mg/L | 7.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Sweetwater compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Sweetwater | 130.5 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Sweetwater's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Sweetwater, Texas, in Nolan County — the Nolan County seat adjacent to Abilene and Colorado City on the Texas Rolling Plains — receives its water from the City of Sweetwater Water Department, drawing from Lake Sweetwater through the west Texas distribution.
The moderately hard 130.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 286.9 mg/L reflect the Nolan County supply's moderate Permian character — the Permian Cisco Formation and Canyon Group are calcareous red bed limestone and mudstone formations in the west Texas Rolling Plains, contributing moderate dissolved mineral content to the Sweetwater reservoir supply (compare Abilene TX: 127/278 in Taylor County comparable; Colorado City TX: 133/295 in Mitchell County comparable; Sweetwater consistent moderate from the same Nolan County Lake Sweetwater Permian calcareous supply). The Lake Sweetwater supply — Permian Cisco Formation (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Permian Canyon Group (slightly calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary west Texas alluvium (slightly calcareous — minor TDS).
At 130.5 mg/L with TDS 287, Sweetwater's water is moderately hard — mild scale buildup. Semi-annual descaling is appropriate. The PFAS level of 5.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review the City of Sweetwater's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Sweetwater in Nolan County draws from the Sweetwater Water on Lake Sweetwater supply (Nolan County, west Texas) — the west Texas watershed at Nolan County draws from Permian Cisco Formation (calcareous) and Permian Cisco-Canyon (slightly calcareous) — Texas Nolan County Lake Sweetwater Permian calcareous supply produces moderately hard water at 130.5 mg/L with TDS 286.9 mg/L.