Water filtration in Austin
Most homes inside Austin city limits get their water from Austin Water. It comes from the Colorado River by way of Lake Travis and Lake Austin, and it's treated at three plants before it reaches your tap.
Austin Water does a solid job. Filtering at home is about what's left after treatment: the chloramine taste and smell, plus some hardness. Here's what the latest report shows and what's worth doing about it.
Your first step
Free water test
- Tested at your tap in Austin
- Compared with your utility's latest report
- Written quote, no pressure
Installed systems start around $600. See pricing
Austin Water uses chloramine
Austin Water disinfects with chloramine. The 2025 report shows an average of 2.3 ppm in the distribution system. Chloramine keeps water safe as it travels through miles of pipe, but it's what many people notice as a pool or bleach taste.
It's also harder to filter than plain chlorine. If you've tried a pitcher filter and still taste it, that's why. Catalytic carbon is the media built for it.
Hardness: moderate, not extreme
Austin Water uses lime softening at its plants, which takes some hardness out before the water leaves. The 2025 report lists hardness from 70 to 126 ppm, averaging 93 ppm. That's about 5.4 grains per gallon, which counts as moderately hard.
So Austin is softer than a lot of the suburbs. You'll still see some spotting and scale, especially on glass shower doors and in kettles. Whether a softener is worth it depends on how much that bothers you.
Other things in the report
Austin Water adds fluoride and has since 1973. The 2025 average was 0.66 ppm. The utility reports little to no detectable PFAS, and says its system is certified free of lead service lines, though some older galvanized customer lines are flagged for replacement.
Serving every part of Austin
Requests come from all over town, from older central neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Tarrytown, and Travis Heights to newer areas like Mueller and Circle C Ranch. Older homes sometimes have galvanized plumbing worth a look during the water test.
Some areas with Austin addresses are actually served by a different utility, like a MUD or water district. Your water bill tells you which one, and your installer can check the right report for your address.
Best fits for Austin homes
- Chloramine removal in AustinCatalytic carbon systems built to handle chloramine, not just chlorine.Typical price$2,000 to $4,000
- Whole house water filtration in AustinFiltered water at every tap, shower, and appliance in the house.Typical price$2,000 to $4,000
- Reverse osmosis systems in AustinClean drinking and cooking water from a faucet at your kitchen sink.Typical price$600 to $1,500
- Free in home water test in AustinA local pro tests your water at the tap and explains the results in plain English.Typical priceFree
Free water test in Austin
What happens next
- We pass your request to a local water treatment installer.
- They call you to pick a time for the free test.
- At your home they test the water and give you a written quote. You decide from there.
Austin water questions
Is Austin water hard?
Moderately. Austin Water's 2025 report averages 93 ppm, about 5.4 grains per gallon. That's softer than many surrounding cities because Austin Water uses lime softening during treatment.
Does Austin use chlorine or chloramine?
Chloramine. Austin Water's 2025 report shows an average of 2.3 ppm in the system. Catalytic carbon filtration is the standard way to reduce it at home.
Does Austin add fluoride to the water?
Yes. Austin Water has added fluoride since 1973. The 2025 average was 0.66 ppm. A reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink reduces fluoride if you prefer drinking water without it.
Do I need a softener in Austin?
Not always. With moderate hardness, many Austin homes do fine with a whole house carbon filter plus RO for drinking water. If scale and spots really bother you, a softener is the fix.
Other services in Austin
Find out what's in your Austin water
Request a free in home water test. A local installer checks hardness, chlorine or chloramine, and dissolved solids at your tap, then gives you a written quote.