What the Crowley Water Report Actually Says
Crowley bought 100 percent of its treated surface water from Fort Worth in 2025. Fort Worth draws from Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Bridgeport, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Lake Benbrook and the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. That mix explains why hardness moves from month to month.
The report lists total hardness at 108 to 150 mg/L as calcium carbonate, which the report states as 6 to 9 grains per gallon. Most softener installers call anything above about 3.5 grains hard, so you are in the range where scale builds, but not extreme.
Crowley's 2025 Numbers and What They Mean for You
This table translates the report into household decisions.
| Measure | 2025 value | What it means at home |
|---|---|---|
| Total hardness | 108 to 150 mg/L (6 to 9 gpg). | Scale on fixtures, heaters and shower glass. |
| pH | 7.8 to 8.5. | Slightly alkaline, which supports scale formation. |
| Chloramine | 2.56 ppm average, limit 4 ppm. | Within the limit. Some people filter for taste. |
| Copper (90th percentile) | 0.164 ppm, action level 1.3 ppm. | Well under the action level. |
| Supplier | City of Crowley, PWS ID 2200034. | Ask Public Works for the full report. |
Figures come from the City of Crowley 2025 Water Quality Report.
Is a Softener Worth It for Your House?
Because the water meets standards, this is a cost and comfort question. Here is a fair way to weigh it.
A softener may pay off if
- You see scale on faucets and shower doors within a week of cleaning.
- You run a tank water heater and want to slow sediment buildup.
- Dry skin, stiff laundry or heavy soap use bother your household.
- You plan to stay in the house long enough to recover the cost.
You may not need one if
- Your main complaint is taste or smell, which a carbon filter addresses better.
- You prefer to skip the salt and the tank maintenance.
- You are short on space or plan to move soon.
- A single showerhead or faucet filter would solve what bothers you.
Softener, Conditioner or Filter: Picking the Right Tool
These products are often lumped together, but they solve different problems.
Salt-based softener
Uses ion-exchange resin to swap calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium. It is the only option that truly removes hardness, and it needs salt and a drain connection.
Salt-free conditioner
Changes how scale forms rather than removing it. Results vary, and it does not give the slick feel of softened water.
Whole-house carbon filter
Reduces chlorine and chloramine taste and odor. Catalytic carbon is usually needed for chloramine.
Reverse osmosis at the sink
A small under-sink system for drinking and cooking water. It treats a single tap rather than the whole house.
Ready to talk through options?
Call (817) 601-6266 and a licensed plumber will answer questions and book a same-day visit when one is available.
How a Softener Gets Installed
A typical job fits in half a day when the plumbing is accessible.
Choose the spot.
The unit needs a level pad, a 120 volt outlet, a drain within reach and room for a bag of salt. A garage near the main line is common.
Tie into the main.
We shut off the water, cut into the main line after the hose bibs you want left untreated, and install a bypass valve so you can isolate the unit.
Run the drain.
The regeneration drain needs an air gap so wastewater cannot flow back into the unit. Brine and rinse water go to a floor drain or standpipe.
Program and test.
We set hardness, capacity and regeneration time, then check for leaks and test the treated water.
Backflow Testing and Irrigation Fixtures
Backflow preventers keep dirty water from being drawn back into the clean supply. Crowley's local amendment, Section 608.17.5, says no valve may be installed downstream of an atmospheric vacuum breaker on a lawn irrigation system, and chemical injection calls for a reduced pressure principal backflow preventer. If you have a sprinkler system or a chemical feed, the device and its placement matter.
Testing requirements for a given device vary, so ask the city whether and how often yours must be tested. We can test and repair common assemblies, and we can replace one that fails. For other plumbing work around your home, our plumbing installation page lists what we install.
Repairing an Existing Softener or Conditioner
Many calls are not new installs. The usual faults are a stuck valve head, a clogged injector, a salt bridge in the brine tank or a resin bed that has worn out. A softener that stops regenerating gives you hard water without any warning light.
Other problems we see are overflow from a clogged drain line or a brine tank that has flooded, and a bypass valve that was left open. If you drop something into the brine well, do not reach into it. Call us and we will retrieve it safely.
If a leaking unit is flooding the garage, shut the bypass or the main valve and call. A flooded floor from a softener is a leak problem first and a treatment problem second.
What Decides the Price of a Softener Job
We give a clear price before work starts. These factors drive it.
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst line or tank, and usually do not cover wear or a slow leak from a softener. Ask your carrier before filing.
Treating Water in Crowley and Nearby Towns
Neighboring towns differ. Burleson buys water from Fort Worth and reported hardness of 5 to 10 grains per gallon in 2024, while Everman runs its own groundwater wells and does not publish a hardness figure on its water page. If you live in Everman, ask the city for current numbers before sizing anything.
A softener also protects the fixtures we install. If scale has already damaged a fixture, our faucet repair service can replace the cartridge. Planning for a new tank? Compare options on the water heater installation page.
Softener and Filter Questions
The 2025 City of Crowley report lists hardness at 108 to 150 mg/L, which is 6 to 9 grains per gallon. That is moderately hard and enough to leave scale.
The report shows no violation, with chloramine at an average of 2.56 ppm against a 4 ppm limit. A softener or filter is optional comfort equipment.
It can slow scale buildup on elements and tank bottoms, which is a common cause of early failure. It does not replace flushing and anode checks.
Check the brine tank monthly and keep it at least a quarter full. Household size and hardness decide how fast it drops.
Yes, we can test, repair and replace common assemblies. Ask the Crowley building department whether your device requires periodic testing.
Usually. Common fixes are cleaning the injector, replacing the valve head or breaking a salt bridge. We diagnose on site and quote before starting.