Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Lubbock, TX tap water
38 contaminants were measured in the Lubbock, TX water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 38
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- Lithium
- Service area
- TX
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Lubbock, TX buys its drinking water from LUBBOCK PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.
Source
Treatment
Distribution
Also buys water from LUBBOCK PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
13 historically-detected contaminants in Lubbock, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2016 | 0.0402 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2016 | 0.0192 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2017 | 0.22 mg/L below national p90 | — | '17 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0011 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2017 | 0.0017 mg/L | — | '17 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0016 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2013 | 0.0034 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18 |
MCAA worst: 2013 | 0.0054 mg/L | — | '13'15'18'19 |
TCAA worst: 2014 | 0.0015 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0013 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0025 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2014 | 0.0013 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0034 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 41.48 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 9 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.054 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 1.5 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.16 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 100 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 41.9 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 21.4 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 5.87 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 216 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 7.1 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSwtp | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (3)— Swtp, Bcg, Nwtp
| |||
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSwtp | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (3)— Swtp, Bcg, Nwtp
| |||
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSwtp | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (3)— Swtp, Bcg, Nwtp
| |||
| PFAS | Not detected ng/LReported levelNwtp | None set | None detected |
+By source (3)— Nwtp, Bcg, Swtp
| |||
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSwtp | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (3)— Swtp, Nwtp, Bcg
| |||
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | Not detected ng/LReported levelSwtp | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (3)— Swtp, Nwtp, Bcg
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 274 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 300 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 129 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 300 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Cyanide | 84.7 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 200 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.706 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.74 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Ammonia | 0.172 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 811 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1000 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 194 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 192 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 1475AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.55 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.083 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 0 NTUMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 2.78 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.7 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 5.1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 30 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 7 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 50 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 0.325 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. | 0MinimumMinimum Level | 5MCL | None detected |
People also ask about Lubbock, TX's water
+Is Lubbock, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Lubbock, TX water utility lists 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Lithium, Lead, PFBA, and Aluminum. 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 Lubbock, TX tap water?
38 contaminants were measured in Lubbock, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and inorganic chemicals. 28 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 Lubbock, TX tap water?
4 contaminants in Lubbock, TX's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Lithium (4.6× the limit); Lead (2.7× the limit); PFBA (1.4× the limit); Aluminum (1.1× 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 Lubbock, TX tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Lithium, at 4.6× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Lubbock, TX tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloride and Total Dissolved Solids. 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 Lubbock, 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 Lubbock, 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.