Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Brownsville, TX tap water
35 contaminants were measured in the Brownsville, TX water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 35
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 5
- 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×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.2×)below national p90 (13.649999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitbelow national p90 (12.049999999999997 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (9.309999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
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.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
3 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Brownsville, TX
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
GROSS BETA worst: 2017 | 7.6 mrem/yr 1.9× | 4 mrem/yr | '17 |
TTHM worst: 2015 | 0.0839 mg/L 1.0× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLORITE worst: 2018 | 1.01 mg/L 1.0× | 1 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CYANIDE worst: 2018 | 0.17 mg/L 85% above national p90 | 0.2 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2015 | 0.0295 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2015 | 0.0029 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'18 |
DICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.0013 mg/L within | 0.005 mg/L | '14 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2016 | 0.61 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
SELENIUM worst: 2015 | 0.0057 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18 |
NITRATE worst: 2014 | 0.84 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ATRAZINE worst: 2017 | 0.0002 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.003 mg/L | '17 |
BARIUM worst: 2013 | 0.124 mg/L within near national p90 | 2 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRITE worst: 2013 | 0.06 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '13 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.985 mg/L above national p90 | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18 |
LEAD worst: 2012 | 0.00339 mg/L | — | '12'15'18 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0068 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0061 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0088 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'19 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0041 mg/L | — | '12'19 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0053 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0067 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.006 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0039 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0067 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Inorganic chemicals
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 910AverageSystem-wide | 1000MCL | Approaching the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.05AverageSystem-wide | 0.3MCL | 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 |
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 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.034AverageSystem-wide | 0.05MCL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.0027 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.0073 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCL | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 92.3AverageSystem-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 |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.5 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.6Highest single sampleNo. of Positive | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Brownsville, TX's water
+Is Brownsville, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 35 contaminants measured in Brownsville, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Brownsville, TX tap water?
35 contaminants were measured in Brownsville, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 23 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in Brownsville, TX tap water approaching the federal limit?
5 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, 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.