Vernon Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
23 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.008 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
1205 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$1.00
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 Vernon, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Vernon | 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 Vernon compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vernon, Texas | 394.5 mg/L | 11.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Altus, Oklahoma | 256 mg/L | 4.9 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Burkburnett, Texas | 78.5 mg/L | 4.7 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Wichita Falls, Texas | 408 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Lawton, Oklahoma | 78 mg/L | 2.5 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | reservoir |
National Benchmark
How Vernon compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Vernon | 394.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Vernon's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Vernon, Texas, in Wilbarger County — the Wilbarger County seat adjacent to Wichita Falls and Quanah on the Red River plains in north Texas — receives its water from the City of Vernon Water Department, drawing from Lake Kemp and mixed sources through the north Texas distribution.
The extremely hard 394.5 mg/L hardness and very high TDS of 1,205 mg/L reflect the Wilbarger County supply's extreme Permian evaporitic character — the Permian Wichita Formation and Clear Fork Group are evaporitic red bed formations in the north Texas Rolling Plains, rich in gypsum, anhydrite, and halite, which dissolve readily into the Lake Kemp supply to produce extreme hardness and very high TDS (compare Wichita Falls TX: 388/1186 in Wichita County comparable; Quanah TX: 400/1222 in Hardeman County comparable; Vernon consistent extremely hard from the same Wilbarger County Lake Kemp Permian evaporitic supply). The Lake Kemp supply — Permian Wichita Formation (evaporitic — primary hardness contributor), Permian Clear Fork Group (evaporitic calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Red River alluvium (evaporitic — TDS contributor).
At 394.5 mg/L with TDS 1,205, Vernon's water is extremely hard — a whole-house water softener is essential. A reverse osmosis system is strongly recommended for drinking due to very high TDS. The PFAS level of 11.4 ppt is very high — a certified filter with PFAS removal is strongly recommended. Review the City of Vernon's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Vernon in Wilbarger County draws from the Vernon Water on the Lake Kemp supply (Wilbarger County, north Texas) — the north Texas Red Beds draws from Permian Wichita Formation (evaporitic) and Permian Clear Fork Group (evaporitic calcareous) — Texas Wilbarger County Lake Kemp Permian evaporitic supply produces extremely hard water at 394.5 mg/L with TDS 1205 mg/L.