Why San Antonio Has Some of the Hardest Water in the U.S.

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Why San Antonio Has Some of the Hardest Water in the U.S.

San Antonio and the neighboring communities face many hard water problems, which impacts tens of millions of people. In fact, the region is among the country’s hardest water contenders, with levels ranging from 15-20 grains per gallon. Read on to discover exactly why San Antonio has some of the hardest water in the U.S.

Why Is the Water So Hard?

The main source of water for millions of people in San Antonio is the Edwards Aquifer. When trying to understand why most residents deal with hard water, it’s crucial to consider the sort of rock that underlies so much of central Texas, including the Edwards Aquifer: limestone. When the water in the region mixes with limestone, it collects a range of minerals, including calcium and magnesium, which causes hardness in the water.

The Edwards Aquifer itself is a 300-700-foot-thick subterranean layer of porous, honeycombed, water-bearing rock. It’s why San Antonio has some of the hardest water in the U.S. Groundwater from this source runs over limestone and reaches houses via the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). According to SAWS, some regions of limestone are denser than others, meaning water hardness varies around the city.

Effects of Hard Water in Region

Many residents in San Antonio struggle with the effects of hard water. It can cause a number of issues, including the following:

  • Pipes, appliances, and fixtures can suffer damage from hard water accumulation.
  • Skin may feel dry and itchy after a bath or shower.
  • People can spend hours at a time trying to scrub off residue along sinks and inside bathtubs.
  • Hard water can quickly strip color from clothing.

Benefits of Water Softeners

Water softeners are incredibly beneficial, as they extract calcium and magnesium from your water supply. This has a variety of advantages, including extending the shelf life of your appliances, enhancing the water’s taste, and giving you smoother skin and silkier hair.

The experts at Alamo Water Softeners provide the best water softener services in San Antonio, and our systems are specifically designed for the area’s hard water. Our San Antonio water softener systems are built to offer you and your family the cleanest, softest water possible while maintaining high flow rates and water pressure. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our services.