Austin sits on top of the Edwards Aquifer, where water spends thousands of years moving through limestone before it reaches the tap — picking up calcium and magnesium the entire way. Here's what that means for your home, and how PureWay treats it.
Austin's municipal supply is drawn from the Highland Lakes and Colorado River, supplemented by the Edwards Aquifer. Published readings put local hardness in the 10–16 grains per gallon range depending on zip code, well into "hard" to "very hard" territory — the industry threshold for "hard" is 7 GPG. Austin Water also disinfects with chloramine rather than free chlorine, which is more chemically stable and requires catalytic carbon, not standard carbon, to filter effectively.
None of this is a health violation — Austin's water meets federal drinking water standards. It's an infrastructure problem: scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and fixtures, and taste/odor that a basic filter won't resolve.
Want to see the actual test results for your zip code? The Environmental Working Group compiles utility testing data by location — look up Austin Water's full report on EWG's Tap Water Database →
Most Austin homes do well with PureWay's 3-stage system: an anti-scale pre-filter that keeps hardness minerals from crystallizing, plus catalytic carbon to handle chloramine — no salt or electricity required. Exact recommendations depend on your on-site test result.
Free on-site test, usually scheduled within a few days.