Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Laredo, TX tap water
17 contaminants were measured in the Laredo, TX water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 17
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- HAA5
- Service area
- TX
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Laredo, 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)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Laredo, TX's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 3 sources.
Source
- INTAKE 1 - JEFFERSON / OLD INTAKE
- INTAKE 5 - JEFFERSON / N OF OLD PUMPS
- INTAKE 6 - EL PICO
Treatment
- SWTP - JEFFERSON
- SWTP - EL PICO
Distribution
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-based12 violations on record · most recent Oct 2024resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Oct 2024resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 16.9–82.5 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | None set | At or above the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 32.5–103 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | None set | At or above the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 2.67 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0–2.1 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.00137 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 3.4 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0954 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.0603 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.22–0.64 mg/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.07–1.05 mg/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Cyanide | 20 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 3.6 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 1 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.1 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalapon | 2 ug/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 200 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 10Reported level0 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 5Reported level0 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Laredo, TX's water
+Is Laredo, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Laredo, TX water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: HAA5 and TTHM. 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 Laredo, TX tap water?
17 contaminants were measured in Laredo, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and radionuclides. 11 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 Laredo, TX tap water?
2 contaminants in Laredo, TX's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: HAA5 (1.4× the limit); TTHM (1.3× 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 Laredo, TX tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is HAA5, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Laredo, 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 Laredo, 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.