Most homeowners have no idea what is actually in their tap or well water. Here is an honest breakdown of the most common contaminants in Conroe, The Woodlands, and Montgomery, Walker, Grimes and Houston Counties — and what each one means for your home.
The water coming out of your tap depends on your source (city supply or private well), the local aquifer geology, how old your pipes are, and how your municipal water provider treats and distributes it. Two homes on the same street — one on city water, one on a well — can have completely different water quality profiles.
In Southeast Texas, the most common issues are hardness (calcium and magnesium scale), iron, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine. But we routinely find bacteria, low pH, elevated nitrates, and high TDS in well water throughout Montgomery County — problems that require testing to identify.
This is why we test before we recommend anything. Water treatment is not one-size-fits-all. The right system for your neighbor may be completely wrong for your water.
The table below covers the most frequently identified water quality issues in our service area. Each entry links to a more detailed guide.
Source in SE Texas
Both city and well water in Montgomery County and Montgomery, Walker, Grimes and Houston Counties are significantly hard — typically 15–30 gpg (grains per gallon). This is among the highest hardness in Texas.
Health & Home Effects
Scale on fixtures, reduced appliance efficiency, dry skin and hair, soap scum, spots on dishes and glassware.
Recommended Solution
Water Softener →Source in SE Texas
Iron is naturally present in the aquifers that supply well water throughout Southeast Texas. City water rarely has iron, but old iron service pipes can contribute to elevated levels.
Health & Home Effects
Orange or rust-colored stains on sinks, toilets, tubs, and laundry. Metallic taste. Clogged irrigation emitters.
Recommended Solution
Iron Filter + Water Softener →Source in SE Texas
All municipal water supplies in Texas are disinfected with chlorine or chloramines (chlorine + ammonia). This is required for public health but creates issues at the tap.
Health & Home Effects
Chlorine odor and taste. Skin and eye irritation in showers. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from chlorine reactions with organic matter. Damage to rubber seals in appliances.
Recommended Solution
Whole-House Carbon Filtration →Source in SE Texas
Hydrogen sulfide gas is produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria and geologic reactions in groundwater. Common in wells throughout Montgomery County and the surrounding region.
Health & Home Effects
Rotten egg odor in water — most noticeable when drawing hot water. Tarnishing of silver and copper. Black slime in toilet tanks (sulfur bacteria byproduct).
Recommended Solution
Aeration or Catalytic Carbon Filter →Source in SE Texas
Coliform bacteria can enter wells through surface infiltration, cracked well casings, or contaminated annular seals. Iron bacteria are naturally occurring but create significant operational problems.
Health & Home Effects
Positive bacteria test results. Musty or earthy taste or odor. Iron bacteria create an orange, slimy biofilm in toilet tanks and plugs irrigation equipment.
Recommended Solution
UV Disinfection or Chlorine Injection →Source in SE Texas
Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic (pH ~5.6) and can lower groundwater pH in sandy or poorly buffered aquifers. Acidic water is corrosive to metal plumbing.
Health & Home Effects
Blue-green staining on copper sinks and fixtures (corrosion byproduct). Pinhole leaks in copper pipes over time. Metallic or sour taste in water.
Recommended Solution
Calcite / Corosex pH Neutralizer →Source in SE Texas
Agricultural runoff, septic systems, and naturally occurring deposits can elevate nitrates in groundwater. The EPA limit is 10 mg/L. Exceeding this is a health concern, especially for infants.
Health & Home Effects
No taste or odor — nitrates are invisible. Health risk for infants under 6 months (blue baby syndrome). Reverse osmosis is the most effective residential treatment.
Recommended Solution
Reverse Osmosis (Drinking Water) →Source in SE Texas
TDS is a measure of all dissolved minerals, salts, and metals in water. Southeast Texas groundwater commonly runs 300–800 mg/L TDS. The EPA recommended limit is 500 mg/L.
Health & Home Effects
Flat, salty, or mineral taste in water. Scaling and spotting. High TDS water is not intrinsically harmful, but individual TDS components may be.
Recommended Solution
Reverse Osmosis (Drinking Water) →Everything on this page is a regional generalization. Your specific water — from your specific source, through your specific pipes — may be very different. A water test gives you actual numbers: your hardness in gpg, your iron in mg/L, your pH, your TDS.
We provide free comprehensive water testing for residential and commercial clients in our service area. No sales pressure — just real numbers and an honest recommendation.
Schedule a Free Water Test
Schedule your free water analysis today and get a plain-language report of your water quality — with specific, honest recommendations.