WELL WATER Test RESULTS EXPLAINED
What Your Water Test Results Mean
Your technician just tested your water. Here's exactly what each number on your report means — and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Why Does North Texas Water Test the Way It Does?
North Texas sits on a thick layer of limestone. As rainwater and reservoir water move through that rock, they absorb calcium and magnesium — the minerals that make water "hard." It's the reason high hardness is the number one water complaint across Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, and surrounding communities.
City water in Dallas typically runs around 8 to 10 grains per gallon. Fort Worth's falls between 6 and 10 gpg. Both sit firmly in the hard category. Homes on private wells in Tarrant, Parker, Wise, and Denton counties often test even higher — and tend to show more iron and pH swings than city water customers see.
If your numbers look high, you're not alone. This is just what North Texas water does.
How to Read the Color Scale on Your Report Card
Your Flowcore Water report card uses a four-level color scale. Here's what each level means:
Color
Level
What It Means
🟢 Green
Optional
Your water is in good shape on this measure
🟡 Yellow
Suggested
Worth watching — you may notice minor effects
🟠 Orange
Essential
Likely causing noticeable problems in your home
🔴 Red
Critical
Strongly affecting your water — most homeowners choose to address this
These ranges reflect common water quality guidelines. They're a starting point for a conversation with your technician, not a final diagnosis.
What Does My Hardness Number Mean?
Hardness measures calcium and magnesium dissolved in your water. North Texas well water is notorious for high hardness — it's one of the most common issues we find in Tarrant, Denton, and Parker County wells.
Your Result
What It Means
1 gpg
Great — no action needed
2–5 gpg
Mild — watch for scale on fixtures over time
6–9 gpg
High — causes appliance damage, dry skin, scale buildup
9+ gpg
Critical — a water softener is strongly recommended
Hard water sits at the top of the EPA's list of aesthetic water complaints — and for good reason. North Texas hardness at 6 gpg and above shortens the life of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines by driving up scale buildup and energy use. It also prevents soap and shampoo from rinsing cleanly, which is why skin can feel tight and dry after a shower and hair feels dull. For anyone in your home dealing with eczema or a dry scalp, hard water is often a contributing factor.
What Is TDS and Why Does It Matter for My Home?
TDS measures everything dissolved in your water — minerals, salts, metals. High TDS doesn't always mean unsafe, but it affects taste and can signal deeper issues.
Your Result
What It Means
Under 300
Clean — within ideal range
300–500
Acceptable — may notice taste
500–900
Elevated — filtration recommended
900+
High — whole-home filtration needed
The EPA's recommended upper limit for TDS in drinking water is 500 mg/L. Above that threshold, most people start to notice a salty, bitter, or flat taste. High TDS also tends to go hand in hand with more scale and spotting — compounding the hard water effects already common across DFW. A reading significantly above 500 mg/L is also worth following up on with a full lab test, since elevated dissolved solids can point toward specific contaminants like nitrates or metals.
Why Is Iron a Problem in North Texas Well Water?
Iron is extremely common in North Texas well water — especially in areas with clay-heavy soil. Even small amounts cause staining, rotten smell, and damage to water heaters and appliances.
Your Result
What It Means
None
No action needed
Present
Iron filtration recommended — don't ignore it
Iron quietly damages the things you use every day. Even small amounts stain laundry, sinks, toilets, and tubs a rusty orange, give drinking water a metallic edge, and shorten the life of water heaters and appliances. The EPA flags iron at 0.3 mg/L — right around the point where most homeowners start noticing stains, taste, and odor changes.
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs? Iron and a rotten egg smell often show up together, and there's a direct reason. Iron bacteria form a low-oxygen slime inside pipes and fixtures — exactly where sulfur-reducing bacteria thrive. Those bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which is the source of the rotten egg odor. In North Texas well water, an iron problem and a sulfur smell almost always travel together. Treating the iron typically resolves both.
What Does My pH Result Mean for My Plumbing?
pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is. Both extremes cause problems — acidic water corrodes pipes, alkaline water leaves mineral deposits.
pH Range
What It Means
Below 6.5
Acidic — corrosion risk to pipes and fixtures
6.5–8.5
Ideal range
Above 8.5
Alkaline — scale and staining likely
The EPA recommends drinking water stay between 6.5 and 8.5. Low pH is the more serious concern — acidic water is corrosive and eats at copper pipes and metal fixtures over time, causing pinhole leaks and blue-green stains around drains and faucets. In older homes especially, that corrosion can leach copper and lead directly into your drinking water, which is a genuine health concern for families with young children.
High pH on the other end drives more scale buildup, makes soaps and cleaners less effective, and can give water a slightly bitter or alkaline taste. If your pH result landed outside the 6.5–8.5 range in either direction, it's worth addressing alongside any hardness or iron issues your report flagged.
What's Your Filtration Level?
Your report card shows one of four levels. Here's what each means for your home:
Level
What To Do
Optional
Your water is in good shape. Annual testing keeps it that way.
Suggested
Minor issues present. A targeted filter could improve taste and protect appliances.
Essential
Action recommended. Without treatment, you'll see appliance damage and water quality decline.
Critical
Immediate attention needed. Call us — we'll walk you through the right solution.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any other questions, please email us.
Is Dallas-Fort Worth water considered hard?
Can hard water affect my skin and hair?
What TDS level is considered safe for drinking water?
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?
Is acidic (low pH) water dangerous?
What areas does Flowcore Water serve?
Not sure what to do next?
Our North Texas technicians test and treat well water every day. Call us at (817) 480-7971 or book a follow-up consultation — we'll tell you exactly what your results mean for your home.