Where it comes from
Per the City of Cedar Park 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, Cedar Park's drinking water comes from Lake Travis. It's treated at the City's Don Webster Water Treatment Plant and at the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority plant, which Cedar Park co-owns with two regional partners.
The report, line by line
| The report says | What it means at your house |
|---|---|
| Hardness 183 ppm as CaCO3 | Just over the USGS "very hard" line of 180. About 10.7 grains for softener settings. Scale on heaters and fixtures. |
| Calcium 37.4 ppm, magnesium 21.5 ppm | These two minerals are the hardness. They leave the white crust. |
| Total dissolved solids 286 ppm | Well under the 1,000 ppm secondary limit. Affects taste more than pipes. |
| pH 7.4–7.8, average 7.6 | Slightly alkaline. The report calls pH a measure of corrosivity. |
| Chloramine 2.65–3.41 ppm, average 3.09 | The disinfectant in your pipes. Pick filters rated for chloramine. |
| Copper at customer taps, 90th percentile 0.623 ppm (2023); no sites over the action level | Testing at homes stayed under the 1.3 ppm copper action level. |
| Lead at customer taps, 90th percentile 3.95 ppb (2023); no sites over the action level | Below the 15 ppb action level. Flushing after water sits is still the City's advice. |
| Service line inventory: non-lead only | Look up your address at cpatlas.com/WaterReport. |
Three things worth doing this week
- Look up your service line at cpatlas.com/WaterReport. It takes a minute and settles the question.
- Flush after water sits. First thing in the morning or after a trip, run the kitchen tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking or cooking, as the City recommends.
- Check your water heater for sediment. At 183 ppm, scale settles in the tank. Popping or rumbling means it's time for a flush.
What hard water does here, and what to do
The USGS explains that heated hard water drops calcium carbonate scale. That shortens equipment life and lowers efficiency. In Cedar Park homes we see it as sediment in tank heaters, scale codes on tankless units, stiff faucet cartridges, and crusted showerheads.
| Option | Good for | Not for |
|---|---|---|
| Water softener | Stopping scale house-wide. The best partner for tankless heaters. | Taste or chloramine |
| Chloramine-rated carbon or RO at the sink | Drinking-water taste | Scale protection |
| Yearly flush and descaling | Homes at about 11 grains that don't mind some upkeep | Households that want to forget about it |
Signs you should call
- The heater keeps popping after a flush, or hot water runs out early. See water heater repair.
- Water at the base of the tank. That's a replacement conversation: water heater installation.
- Pressure is low throughout the house, or the water has a metallic taste from old interior piping. Repiping may be the fix.
Crusty aerator or one slow faucet? Unscrew it and soak it in vinegar. You don't need us for that.
Pricing factors
We quote in writing after seeing the job. Free estimates. What moves the price: softener loop or main-line cut-in, drain and outlet access, heater type and venting, and how much interior pipe is involved.
On our visit
- We test hardness at your tap. Expect something near the report's 183 ppm.
- We inspect the water heater and any existing softener or filter.
- We recommend what fits, including "nothing yet."
Lakeline Plumbing is licensed & insured. Call (737) 770-7097, 24/7.
Cedar Park water FAQ
Is Cedar Park water hard?
Yes. The 2025 report lists hardness at 183 ppm as calcium carbonate. The USGS calls anything above 180 very hard, so Cedar Park sits right at that line. In softener terms, that's about 10.7 grains per gallon.
Do I have a lead service line?
The City says its inventory found only non-lead service lines, on both the City and customer sides of the meter. You can look up your address at cpatlas.com/WaterReport. Plumbing inside the house is separate. Older fixtures and solder vary by home.
Why does the report say to run the tap before drinking?
The City advises that when water has sat for several hours, you can reduce potential lead exposure by flushing the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking or cooking. Lead, where present, mainly comes from service lines and home plumbing materials.
Cedar Park uses chloramine. Does that matter for filters?
It can. The report lists chloramine as the distribution disinfectant, averaging 3.09 ppm. If you buy a taste filter, check that it's rated for chloramine, not just chlorine. A softener doesn't remove either.
Do I need a softener at 183 ppm?
Not necessarily. At about 11 grains, many homes manage with a yearly heater flush and fixture descaling. A softener makes more sense with a tankless heater, lots of glass shower surfaces, or if you're tired of spots.
Where does Cedar Park water come from?
Lake Travis. It's treated at Cedar Park's Don Webster Water Treatment Plant and at the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority plant, which the City co-owns with two regional partners.
Source
- City of Cedar Park 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report: source water, treatment plants, hardness and minerals, chloramine, lead and copper results, service line inventory, flushing advice.
- USGS: hardness classes and scale effects.