Texas City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
180+ mg/L
Very Hardestimated · not lab-verified
Source
reservoir
pH Level
8.3
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.007 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
988.3 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.91
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · 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 Texas City, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Texas City | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 4.7 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -45% |
| Washing Machine | 6.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -45% |
| Water Heater | 8.3 yrs | 15 yrs | -45% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Texas City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Texas City, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 280.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| La Marque, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 149.6 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Galveston, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 800.3 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Dickinson, Texas | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 270.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Santa Fe, Texas | ≈ 120–179 mg/L | 791 ppt | 🟠 Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Texas City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Texas City | ≈ 180+ mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Texas City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) provides water to Texas City, Texas, in Galveston County, serving residential, commercial, and industrial users in this coastal community. GCWA purchases surface water from the Brazos River, drawing from locations in Galveston, Brazoria, and Fort Bend Counties along the Texas Gulf Coast. The water undergoes full treatment at GCWA facilities — including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection — before distribution to Texas City and surrounding areas. Annual Consumer Confidence Reports document compliance with federal and state water quality standards.
The Brazos River watershed spans Central Texas to the Gulf Coast, draining terrain including limestone-rich Hill Country and coastal plains. Key formations include Cretaceous Edwards and Trinity Group limestones, which are highly soluble and contribute dissolved minerals to both groundwater and surface flows. Regional aquifers like the Gulf Coast Aquifer system, fed by river recharge, amplify mineral pickup through karst features and evaporitic sediments. Prolonged contact with gypsum and evaporite deposits in the subsurface further elevates mineral content, resulting in a hard supply prone to accumulation from extended water-rock interaction.
Very hard water promotes significant scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap lathering is poor, leaving residue on skin, hair, and laundry, while faucets and fixtures develop stubborn mineral deposits. Regular descaling, vinegar rinses, and professional maintenance are advised; a water softener is strongly recommended to prevent appliance failure and extend plumbing life. The GCWA 2024 Consumer Confidence Report confirms turbidity compliance at 100% meeting the 0.3 NTU limit, indicating effective filtration. Surface water treatment includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection; soil runoff is monitored as a potential turbidity source.
Geology & Source: Brazos River watershed — Cretaceous Edwards and Trinity Group limestones, Gulf Coast alluvial sediments; karst dissolution and evaporite/gypsum contact enrich calcium and magnesium; hard to very hard supply
Other Texas Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas City's water safe to drink?
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How does Texas City compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Texas City is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
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.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
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.
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.
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.
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.