Is tap water safe in Amarillo?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Amarillo, TX?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 358 ppm (20.9 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 79101?

At 358 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Amarillo water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Amarillo, Texas.

Median indexed hardness

358PPM

8 indexed ZIPs

Range 358–358 PPM

State comparison: 247 PPM above
State hardness rank: #22 of 523
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Amarillo has 8 published ZIP profiles across Potter County. The indexed median is 358 PPM, compared with 111 PPM across Texas.

Among the 523 Texascities with an indexed median, Amarillo ranks #22from highest to lowest. Across all 1,026 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 5.4to 500.5 PPM.

The 358–358 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard8 ZIPs

8 of 8 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 18.5 miles
Profiles with evidence: 8/8

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 8Low: 0

Amarillo Municipal Water System

PWSID TX1880001

Surface water

System population served: 201,291
Last reported: Jun 26, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Consumer Confidence Rule	TX1880001	Jul 1, 2023	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	TX1880001	Jul 1, 2021	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Texas communities

Borger

Hutchinson County

358 PPM median

Canyon

Randall County

358 PPM median

Pampa

Gray County

358 PPM median

Clarendon

Donley County

358 PPM median

Mason

Mason County

351 PPM median

Crane

Crane County

367 PPM median

Search all 529 Texas cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Amarillo

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 358 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.