Hardness
Hard
160 PPM · 9.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Austin, TX 78728
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Travis County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- City Of Austin Water & Wastewater
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Travis County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 1,115,323 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
160 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
160
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
9.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 160 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
11
Nearest site
15.6 mi
Observation range
Sep 21, 2016–Apr 19, 2026
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Barton Ck at Lost Ck Blvd nr Austin, TX (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 78728 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Austin median
86 PPM
74 PPM higher39 indexed ZIP readings · Range 83.8–162.5 PPM
Texas median
111 PPM
49 PPM higher1019 indexed ZIP readings · Range 5.4–500.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2024
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 1
- Health-based
- 1
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleHealth-based | TX2270001 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2022through Feb 28, 2022 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Austin ZIP 78728 using 160 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
160 PPM is 1× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Austin
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Austin
Is tap water safe in Austin?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 160 PPM, or 9.4 grains per gallon, classified as hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 160 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.