Athens, TX water hardness

Tap water hardness
21mg/L
1.2gpg
SoftReports range 21–42

Calculated from the utility's calcium and magnesium results · August 2024

TX typical
112 mg/L
EPA health violations since 2016
4
Data
Calculated from utility data

Tap water in Athens has about 21 mg/L of hardness, which is 1.2 grains per gallon. On the USGS scale that counts as soft. TapWaterData worked it out from the calcium and magnesium levels the local utility reports (August 2024). Reports for this system disagree, with values from 21 to 42 mg/L.

Athens on the hardness scale, with nearby cities
060120180240300360+TX typical 112Whitehouse: 3 mg/LWhitehouse 3Mineola: 5 mg/LMineola 5Canton: 7 mg/LCanton 7Lindale: 7 mg/LLindale 7Bullard: 9 mg/LBullard 9Palestine: 25 mg/LPalestine 25Tyler: 26 mg/LTyler 26Mabank: 36 mg/LMabank 36Gun Barrel City: 41 mg/LGun Barrel City 41Corsicana: 86 mg/LCorsicana 86Athens 21mg/L as calcium carbonate060120180240300360+TX 112Canton: 7 mg/LCanton 7Lindale: 7 mg/LLindale 7Bullard: 9 mg/LBullard 9Tyler: 26 mg/LTyler 26Mabank: 36 mg/LMabank 36Gun Barrel City: 41 mg/LGun Barrel. 4121 mg/Lmg/L as calcium carbonate
Soft 0–60 mg/LModerately hard 61–120 mg/LHard 121–180 mg/LVery hard 181+ mg/L

Athens sits 91 mg/L below the typical Texas figure of 112. Of the 10 nearest cities we track, 5 have softer water and 5 have harder. The range nearby runs from 3 mg/L in Whitehouse to 86 in Corsicana.

What 21 mg/L means at home

Soap and shampoo lather with very little product. Kettles and showerheads stay mostly free of white crust.

Some people notice that soap feels slow to rinse off in soft water. That slippery feel is normal and harmless.

Hardness is not a health problem, and EPA sets no limit for it. It is a matter of scale and soap.

What to do about it

Nothing, as far as hardness goes. At 21 mg/L a softener would have almost nothing to remove.

Carbon filter

If the water tastes of chlorine, a pitcher or faucet carbon filter takes care of that. It does not change hardness.

EPA record for Athens's water system

City of Athens · PWSID TX1070005

4 health-based violations since 2016

Serves about 17,934 people from surface water.

Health-based
4
Monitoring or reporting
28
Open now
0

EPA lists this system as serving Athens.

20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026Haloacetic acids (HAA5)'16'18'20'22'24'26Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Each dot is one health-based violation, placed at the start of its compliance period.
Contaminant or ruleViolationsPeriodStatus
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)a disinfection byproduct42016Resolved

Health-based means a contaminant above its legal limit or a missed treatment step. Monitoring and reporting violations are late or missing tests and notices. Source: EPA ECHO, 2026Q3 export, violations with periods starting 2016 or later. Full EPA record.

Questions

Is Athens water hard?

No. It measures about 21 mg/L (1.2 grains per gallon), which the USGS classes as soft.

What is the water hardness in Athens in grains per gallon?

About 1.2 gpg. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/L, so 21 mg/L divided by 17.1 gives 1.2.

Has the Athens water system had EPA violations?

EPA records show 4 health-based violations for City of Athens since 2016, involving Haloacetic acids (HAA5). There were also 28 monitoring or reporting violations, which are about late or missing tests and notices.

Nearby cities

All 342 cities in Texas

Hardness data: TapWaterData US Water Hardness (calculated from utility data, August 15, 2024), CC BY 4.0. Population: US Census Bureau. Violations: EPA ECHO. How we use them.