Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Houston, TX tap water
22 contaminants were measured in the Houston, TX water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 22
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- TX
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
4 PFAS compounds detected in Houston, 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.
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)6:2 FTS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Houston, TX's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 111 sources.
Source
- SIMS BAYOU 5A - 12434 SETTEMONT
- SIMS BAYOU 1A - 13812 1/2 CROQUET
- ENCLAVE 2 WL 2 - 13135 FORKLAND
- ACRES HOMES 2SB - 1810 DOLLY WRIGHT
- + 107 more
Treatment
- HIA-1 - 3102 MCKAUGHAN
- ELLINGTON NORTH - 1139 KIRK
- ENCLAVE 2 - 13135 FORKLAND
- + 48 more
Distribution
Also buys water from PINE TRAILS UTILITY.
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.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based3 violations on record · most recent May 2015resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent May 2025resolved
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 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 7 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.77 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 3.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 30 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.6 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanide | 52.5 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.21 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.39 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitriteA compound from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.03 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 2.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.003 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.3 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 90 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.8 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 23.8 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehp | 0.3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Xylenes Total | 0.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 10000 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 0.002 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0 %AverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
People also ask about Houston, TX's water
+Is Houston, TX tap water safe to drink in 2023?
Every one of the 22 contaminants measured in Houston, TX's 2023 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 Houston, TX tap water?
22 contaminants were measured in Houston, TX's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and radionuclides. 12 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Houston, TX's 2023 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 Houston, 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.