# Richardson, TX — Drinking Water Quality (2024)

> Contaminant levels for the Richardson, TX public water system from its 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, compared to federal limits.

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/tx/richardson/2024
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/tx/richardson/2024
- Source: the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- Verification: transcribed by a model, cross-checked by a second model, approved before publishing
- Reporting year: 2024
- Contaminants measured: 37
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 19
- Contaminants at or above the federal limit: 0
- Part of The Water Map — https://www.thewatermap.com

## Contaminants measured

| Contaminant | Category | Measured level | Sampling context | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Disinfectants | 2.63 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | Within the limit |
| Bromate | Disinfection byproducts | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 10 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Bromodichloromethane | Disinfection byproducts | 12.91 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bromoform | Disinfection byproducts | 2.42 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chlorite | Disinfection byproducts | 0.16 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 1 mg/L (MRDL) | Within the limit |
| Chloroform | Disinfection byproducts | 9.31 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Dibromochloromethane | Disinfection byproducts | 10.07 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | 20.35 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 60 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 34.71 ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 80 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Chloride | Inorganic chemicals | 30–107 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 0.537–0.968 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | 4 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 0.79 mg/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | 10 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Sulfate | Inorganic chemicals | 76.8–171 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Antimony | Metals | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 6 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Arsenic | Metals | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 10 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Barium | Metals | 0.048 mg/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | 2 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Beryllium | Metals | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 4 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Calcium | Metals | 26.5–69.8 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, Total | Metals | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 100 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Copper | Metals | 0.9896 mg/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 1.3 mg/L (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Lead | Metals | 0.0288 ug/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 15 ug/L (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Magnesium | Metals | 4.9–9.77 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Manganese | Metals | 0.159 mg/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Nickel | Metals | 0.0047–0.0048 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Selenium | Metals | 0–0 ug/L (Range) | System-wide | 50 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Sodium | Metals | 95.4 mg/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Zinc | Metals | 0–0 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | None detected |
| Cryptosporidium | Microbial | 0 (Maximum) | System-wide | No federal limit | None detected |
| Giardia lamblia | Microbial | 0.09–0.18 (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Alkalinity | Physical & aggregate | 51–139 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Hardness | Physical & aggregate | 82–312 mg/L (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| pH | Physical & aggregate | 6.39–9.17 (Range) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved Solids | Physical & aggregate | 492 mg/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 0–0 pCi/L (Range) | System-wide | 5 pCi/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 0–0 pCi/L (Range) | System-wide | 15 pCi/L (MCL) | None detected |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | Radionuclides | 4.7 pCi/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | 50 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Atrazine | VOCs & pesticides | 0.2 ug/L (Highest single sample) | System-wide | 3 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |

## What these contaminants are

- **Chlorine** — A disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. Effective and necessary, but high residual levels can cause taste and odor issues; the EPA caps the residual disinfectant level.
- **Bromate** — A disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. Classified as a probable human carcinogen; the EPA sets a strict maximum contaminant level.
- **Bromodichloromethane** — A trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. Counted within regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is associated with cancer and reproductive effects.
- **Bromoform** — A trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. Counted within regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is associated with liver and kidney effects.
- **Chloroform** — A trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. A component of regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is linked to liver and kidney effects.
- **Dibromochloromethane** — A trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. Part of regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is linked to nervous-system, liver, and kidney effects.
- **HAA5** — Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is associated with an increased cancer risk.
- **TTHM** — Total trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is linked to liver, kidney, and central-nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk.
- **Chloride** — A naturally occurring salt compound. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
- **Fluoride** — A mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Beneficial at low levels, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause bone disease and tooth mottling.
- **Nitrate** — A compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. Levels above the federal limit can cause 'blue baby syndrome,' a serious oxygen-transport condition in infants.
- **Sulfate** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
- **Arsenic** — A naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure is linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
- **Barium** — A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
- **Calcium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Chromium, Total** — Total chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause allergic dermatitis; includes hexavalent chromium.
- **Copper** — A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Lead** — A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
- **Magnesium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Manganese** — A naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. No enforceable federal limit; high levels stain fixtures and laundry and can affect taste, with a health advisory for infants.
- **Nickel** — A metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure can cause skin and other effects; monitored under EPA rules.
- **Selenium** — A trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Essential in tiny amounts, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause hair and fingernail loss and circulatory problems.
- **Sodium** — A naturally occurring salt component. Not federally regulated for health; relevant for people on sodium-restricted diets.
- **Zinc** — A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
- **Alkalinity** — A measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. Not federally regulated for health; relevant to corrosion control and treatment.
- **Hardness** — A measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling, soap use, and taste.
- **pH** — A measure of how acidic or basic the water is. Regulated only as a secondary standard; very low or high pH can corrode pipes or affect taste.
- **Total Dissolved Solids** — Total dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels affect taste and hardness.
- **Combined Radium** — Combined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases the risk of bone cancer.
- **Gross Alpha** — Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
- **Gross Beta Particle Activity** — Gross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal screening level increases cancer risk.
- **Atrazine** — A widely used agricultural herbicide that reaches water through runoff. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can affect the cardiovascular and reproductive systems.

## How to read this

- A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
- 'Federal limit' is the EPA standard (MCL, action level, treatment technique, etc.) that the measured level is compared against.
- 'At or above the federal limit' means the utility's own reported figure met or exceeded that standard.

_Figures are the utility's own published numbers. Generated 2026-05-25 from thewatermap.com._