Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Waco, TX tap water
12 contaminants were measured in the Waco, TX water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 12
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Bromate
- Service area
- TX
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Waco, 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
Waco, TX's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- INTAKE 1 - LAKE WACO
Treatment
- BOOSTER PLANT - OLD MCGREGOR RD PS
- BOOSTER PLANT - AIRPORT PS
- BOOSTER PLANT - HILLCREST PS
- + 6 more
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.
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0–13.4 ug/LRangeRange of Individual Samples | 0 ug/LMCLG | At or above the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 44.9 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 24.5 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2.61 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.00189 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.123 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0411 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | None detected |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.24 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.42 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AtrazineA widely used agricultural herbicide that reaches water through runoff. | 0 ug/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 6.3 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Waco, TX's water
+Is Waco, TX tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Waco, TX water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Bromate. 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 Waco, TX tap water?
12 contaminants were measured in Waco, TX's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. 9 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 Waco, TX tap water?
One contaminant in Waco, TX's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Bromate (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 Waco, TX tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Bromate, at 1.3× 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 Waco, 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 Waco, 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.