West University Place Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.4 grains per gallon
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
879 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.84
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 West University Place, your appliances are currently losing 42% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In West University Place | 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 West University Place compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ West University Place, Texas | 314.5 mg/L | 9.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Bellaire, Texas | 220 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Houston, Texas | 184 mg/L | 12.4 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | reservoir |
| Missouri City, Texas | 183.5 mg/L | 7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Stafford, Texas | 407.5 mg/L | 11.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How West University Place compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ West University Place | 314.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Badger-quality water to your West University Place home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.com →
What Makes West University Place's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
West University Place, Texas, in Harris County — an affluent Harris County city entirely surrounded by the city of Houston, adjacent to Rice University and Bellaire in west Houston — receives its municipal water from Houston Public Works, drawing from the Gulf Coast Aquifer (Evangeline and Chicot aquifer units, Harris County) and supplemental surface water through the Houston Public Works distribution system.
The very hard 314.5 mg/L hardness and high TDS of 879 mg/L are characteristic of the west Houston Gulf Coast Aquifer communities (Katy: 363 mg/L; Pecan Grove: 362 mg/L; Bellaire: ~315 mg/L) — reflecting the deep Evangeline and Chicot aquifer units' intense calcareous and evaporitic character from the Pleistocene and Pliocene Gulf Coast sedimentary column. The Gulf Coast Aquifer (Evangeline unit) at Harris County is developed in Pleistocene-Pliocene sand (calcareous clay cement — primary hardness source), Pliocene Goliad Formation (calcareous), and saline Miocene confining layers (TDS contributor via vertical leakage).
At 314.5 mg/L with TDS 879, West University Place's water is very hard. A water softener is strongly recommended. Scale builds rapidly on all surfaces, appliance lifespans are significantly shortened, and water heaters require annual descaling without softening. The PFAS level of 9.7 ppt warrants a certified reverse osmosis drinking water filter — the Harris County west Houston industrial corridor and the Gulf Coast Aquifer PFAS background from the Houston industrial complex contribute to West University Place's elevated readings.
Geology & Source: West University Place in Harris County draws from Houston Public Works on the Gulf Coast Aquifer (Harris County, south Texas) — the Gulf Coast Aquifer at Harris County is developed in Pleistocene and Pliocene Evangeline Aquifer sand (calcareous, evaporitic clay confining layers) — Texas Harris County Gulf Coast Aquifer Pleistocene-Pliocene evaporitic-calcareous system produces very hard water at 314.5 mg/L with TDS 879 mg/L in this Harris County Texas city.