Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Brownsville, TX tap water
36 contaminants were measured in the Brownsville, TX water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 36
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- TX
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Brownsville, TX
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.3×)PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.2×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Brownsville, TX's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- INTAKE 2 - RESACA DE LA GUERRA
- INTAKE 1 - RIO GRANDE
Treatment
- SWTP PLANT 1 - 94 W 13TH ST
- SWTP PLANT 2 - 1425 ROBIN HOOD RD
Distribution
Also buys water from SOUTHMOST REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Dec 2008resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 3.52 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 190 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 0.81 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 31.7 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 19.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 3.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.109 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 3.1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0956 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.034 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 92.3AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 42.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.0027 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0029AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 293 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.0073 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.5 pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 7.1 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanide | 50 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.72 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.38 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 266 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 284 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.05 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 145AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 352AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.41AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 910 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.6 %Highest single sampleNo. of Positive | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Brownsville, TX's water
+Is Brownsville, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Brownsville, TX water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOS. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Brownsville, TX tap water?
36 contaminants were measured in Brownsville, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 10 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Brownsville, TX tap water?
One contaminant in Brownsville, TX's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOS (2.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Brownsville, TX tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOS, at 2.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Brownsville, TX tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloramine and Chlorite. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Brownsville, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Brownsville, TX's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.