Water Treatment · Houston, TX
Water softeners & filtration in Houston
Houston’s own 2025 water report shows hardness that can swing from mildly hard to very hard, and the Main System is disinfected with chloramine. We size a softener, whole-home carbon filter, or reverse osmosis system to your tap — not a citywide average — after a free mailed water test.
What public reports say about Houston water
- Houston Public Works says its system serves about 5.5 million people and draws on surface water (Trinity River/Lake Livingston and San Jacinto River/Lake Conroe & Lake Houston) plus groundwater from the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers.
- The 2025 Water Quality Report lists Main System total hardness from 43.5 to 229 mg/L, averaging 135.5 mg/L. That works out to roughly 2.5 to 13.4 grains per gallon, about 7.9 on average (17.1 mg/L per grain).
- The Main System is disinfected with chloramine. A water softener does not remove chloramine; carbon filtration made for chloramine targets its taste and smell.
- The same 2025 report lists Main System total dissolved solids from 146 to 331 mg/L, averaging 260 mg/L. Reverse osmosis is a point-of-use system, usually under the kitchen sink, for reducing dissolved solids at that tap.
- Many Houston-area homes are on a MUD or another utility rather than the City system, so your tap can differ from these averages.
Water varies by home, utility and MUD. Figures come from the public reports linked below.
How we help Houston homeowners
If you are seeing spots on glass, scale on faucets, or buildup in a water heater, a water softener is usually the starting point. If the main complaint is taste or smell, carbon filtration at the main line is the stage that addresses chlorine or chloramine. Many homes use both, and add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water.
We start with a free mailed water test. The mailed test is free. Booking takes a $20 deposit, credited toward your system when installed; it is non-refundable if you choose not to install. A licensed water treatment specialist reviews your results. If you move forward, you pay 30% when you approve the written proposal, the equipment ships to your home, a licensed installer confirms with a quick on-site reading and installs it, and you pay the remaining 70% after it is installed and working.
The Water Softener starts at $2,589. A standalone under-sink RO is $795, and the RO add-on is $595. Essentials, Softener + Carbon, Softener + Carbon + RO, and Premium are tiers quoted after your free mailed water test. From Nov 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, get $150 off the Softener + Carbon + RO package or the Premium Whole-Home package. The offer does not apply to other packages. Financing available, subject to approval.
We serve Houston homes within 35 miles of Richmond, TX, including nearby MUDs. Call (832) 639-4127 if you are not sure you are in our area.
Book Your Water Test Call (832) 639-4127
Related reading: Water by community: Fort Bend & West Houston
Houston water questions
Is Houston water hard?
Houston Public Works’ 2025 report lists Main System hardness averaging about 7.9 grains per gallon, with samples from about 2.5 to 13.4 grains per gallon. Suburbs, MUDs, and wells can be different, so a mailed test of your own tap is the way to know.
Does Houston use chloramine?
Yes. The City of Houston Main System is disinfected with chloramine. A softener does not remove chloramine. Carbon filtration made for chloramine is the stage that targets its taste and smell.
Do I need a softener, a carbon filter, or both?
It depends on your water. A softener addresses hardness (spots and scale). Carbon filtration addresses chlorine or chloramine taste and smell at every tap. Reverse osmosis is for drinking water at one faucet. The mailed test, reviewed by a licensed specialist, determines which you need.
How much do systems cost in Houston?
The Water Softener starts at $2,589. A standalone under-sink RO is $795, and the RO add-on is $595. Essentials, Softener + Carbon, Softener + Carbon + RO, and Premium are tiers quoted after your free mailed water test. A written proposal after your water test confirms the price for your home. You pay 30% when you approve the proposal and the remaining 70% after installation. From Nov 18, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, get $150 off the Softener + Carbon + RO package or the Premium Whole-Home package.
How long does installation take?
After you approve the proposal, a 30% deposit orders your system, which ships to your home. A licensed installer then does a quick on-site reading to confirm your numbers and installs the system. We will give you a scheduled install date once the equipment is on the way. Call (832) 639-4127 if you want to talk through what to expect for your package.
Do I have to add salt?
Yes, if you choose a salt-based softener. It uses salt to remove hardness minerals, and you add salt to the brine tank periodically. A salt-free conditioner does not remove hardness the same way, so a hardness test still reads hard. We recommend a system after your mailed water test.
Is financing available?
Financing available, subject to approval. See financing. We do not publish rates on this page.
How much is the water test?
The mailed water test is free. Booking takes a $20 deposit, credited toward your system when installed; it is non-refundable if you choose not to install. This is a mailed test only.
Sources: Houston Public Works: 2025 Water Quality Report. Always check the current report, as figures can change.
Other areas we serve: Richmond · Rosenberg · Sugar Land · Fulshear · Missouri City · Katy
Cess Water Solutions team