Universal City Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.8 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
909.5 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.86
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 Universal City, your appliances are currently losing 43% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Universal City | 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 Universal City compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Universal City, Texas | 322.5 mg/L | 9.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Schertz, Texas | 189.5 mg/L | 7.1 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Converse, Texas | 126.5 mg/L | 5.8 ppt | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Live Oak, Texas | 243 mg/L | 8.2 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Cibolo, Texas | 273 mg/L | 8.8 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Universal City compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Universal City | 322.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Universal City's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Universal City, Texas, in Bexar County — a Bexar County city adjacent to Randolph Air Force Base (Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph), an incorporated community at the eastern edge of the San Antonio metropolitan area — receives its municipal water from Universal City Water Utilities or the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), drawing from the Edwards Aquifer through the SAWS-San Antonio metropolitan supply, blended with Canyon Lake (Guadalupe River) surface water.
The extremely hard 322.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 909.5 mg/L reflect the Edwards Aquifer's extreme Cretaceous karstic limestone geology. The Edwards Aquifer — the primary water supply for San Antonio and surrounding communities — is one of the world's most productive karstic aquifer systems, accessing the Cretaceous Edwards Limestone, Kainer Formation (dolomite and limestone), and Person Formation (dolomite) of the Balcones Fault Zone. These karstic carbonates have extremely high porosity and permeability from dissolution along fractures and faults, but also extremely high dissolved calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate from the pure Cretaceous limestone matrix. The San Antonio Edwards supply consistently produces extremely hard water throughout the San Antonio metro.
At 322.5 mg/L with TDS 910 mg/L, Universal City's water is extremely hard. A whole-house water softener is essential and kitchen reverse osmosis filtration for drinking water is strongly recommended — TDS of 910 mg/L is nearly twice the EPA aesthetic guideline. The PFAS level of 9.9 ppt is very high and warrants RO filtration — Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph (AFFF-using air base directly adjacent to Universal City), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (Kelly Field), and the San Antonio military complex are primary PFAS sources.
Geology & Source: Universal City in Bexar County draws from the Universal City Water or San Antonio Water System (SAWS) on the Edwards Aquifer or Canyon Lake (Guadalupe River) — the Edwards Aquifer accesses Cretaceous Edwards Limestone and Georgetown Formation (karstic dolomite and limestone) of the Balcones Fault Zone — Cretaceous Edwards karstic limestone aquifer produces extremely hard water at 322.5 mg/L with very high TDS 910 mg/L in this Bexar County Texas city.