Chances are If you live in Central Texas, your water will tend to be hard. In Texas, your water will come from either surface sources like lakes, rivers or streams. Your water can also come from underground aquifers (also known as groundwater). In Amarillo, 100% of your water comes from groundwater.
Think of aquifers as underground porous rocks through which water can flow. The minerals that come from these rocks is what makes Amarillo Texas water hard.
Because it is expensive for a city to treat hard water, and because it is not detrimental to your health, many cities choose not to treat it with water filtration.
What is in our Amarillo water?
Contaminants may be found in in the water in and around Amarillo, TX. These contaminates in the drinking water may cause a bad taste, color or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns.
Contaminants that may be present in the water in Amarillo:
- Microbial contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and protozoans that may be from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife;
- Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming;
- Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm-water runoff and residential uses;
- Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm-water runoff and septic systems;
- Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
*You can download the 2016 Amarillo Water Quality Report here. Though much of Amarillo has hard water, the tap water in Amarillo met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state drinking water health standards.
What is hard water?
The EPA defines hard water if it contains a large amount of dissolved minerals. These minerals found in Texas are minerals such as calcium or magnesium. Hard water is not a health hazard, and you will usually find groundwater to be harder than surface water.
How do I know if my water is hard?
Hard water will make it difficult to lather up with soap. Your skin may feel dry after showering, and you’ll need more laundry detergent to wash your clothes. You can also call our experienced professionals at Bluefrog Plumbing & Drain of Amarillo. We can test your water and offer the appropriate water softening solutions.
Every home in Amarillo, TX deserves access to clean, refreshing water.
To schedule a consultation, contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain by calling (806) 853-5668. We’re ready to provide your home with fresh water today!
