Is tap water safe in Odessa?

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 Odessa, TX?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 420.5 ppm (24.6 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 79761?

At 420.5 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

Odessa water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

421PPM

3 indexed ZIPs

Range 369–420.5 PPM

State comparison: 310 PPM above
State hardness rank: #11 of 523
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Odessa has 3 published ZIP profiles across Ector County. The indexed median is 421 PPM, compared with 111 PPM across Texas.

Among the 523 Texascities with an indexed median, Odessa ranks #11from highest to lowest. Across all 1,026 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 5.4to 500.5 PPM.

The 369–420.5 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 hard3 ZIPs

3 of 3 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 9.8 miles
Profiles with evidence: 3/3

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 3Low: 0

Observation window: May 31, 2016 to Sep 5, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Odessa

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

79761

Very Hard

420.5 PPM

Nearest site: 9.8 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

79762

Very Hard

420.5 PPM

Nearest site: 6.1 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

79766

Very Hard

369 PPM

Nearest site: 18.1 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

City Of Odessa

PWSID TX0680002

Surface water

System population served: 123,334
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
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TX0680002	Oct 1, 2025	Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule	TX0680002	Oct 1, 2025	Resolved
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	TX0680002	Jul 2, 2025	Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TX0680002	Feb 1, 2021	Resolved · health-based
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TX0680002	Feb 1, 2021	Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TX0680002	Feb 1, 2021	Resolved
Public Notice	TX0680002	Nov 12, 2019	Unaddressed

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

Seagraves

Gaines County

420 PPM median

Kermit

Winkler County

420 PPM median

Seminole

Gaines County

428 PPM median

Wink

Winkler County

428 PPM median

Idalou

Lubbock County

429 PPM median

Abernathy

Hale County

409 PPM median

Search all 529 Texas cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Odessa

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 421 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.