Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Odessa, TX tap water
15 contaminants were measured in the Odessa, 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
- 15
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- TTHM
- Service area
- TX
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
3 PFAS compounds detected in Odessa, 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.
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Odessa, TX's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 6 sources.
Source
- O H IVIE
- CRMWD LAKE E V SPENCE
- CRMWD LAKE J B THOMAS
- CRMWD MOSS CREEK LAKE
- + 2 more
Treatment
- SWTP WATER TREATMENT PLANT
- CRMWD WARD CO WELL FIELD INTO CW 1 OR 2
Distribution
Also buys water from COLORADO RIVER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, TX1140038.
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-based4 violations on record · most recent Aug 1983resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent Feb 2021resolved
- Other1 violation on record · most recent Nov 20191 open
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 2.53–96.4 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | None set | At or above the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 0–27.6 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyanide | 200 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 1.24–1.24 mg/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 3.45 mg/LAverageAnnual | 4 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 2.2–2.2 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 10 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.12 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.0594 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | 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 |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 2 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.5 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 13.4 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 2.8 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
People also ask about Odessa, TX's water
+Is Odessa, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Odessa, TX water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: TTHM and Cyanide. 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 Odessa, TX tap water?
15 contaminants were measured in Odessa, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and radionuclides. 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 Odessa, TX tap water?
2 contaminants in Odessa, TX's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: TTHM (1.2× the limit); Cyanide (1.0× 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 Odessa, TX tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is TTHM, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Odessa, TX tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloramine. 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 Odessa, 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 Odessa, 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.