Texas Water Quality Report: 40,010 Water-System Violations Mapped to 1,605 ZIPs
4,136 water systems · 1,605 ZIP codes · 40,010 violations
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 4,136 public water systems serving 1,605 ZIP codes in Texas. The state record shows 40,010 EPA violations, 9,706 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Texas
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Cities with Most Violations in Texas
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | 1,183 | 154 | 3,206,570 | Details → | |
| 2 | Amarillo | 479 | 7 | 236,165 | Details → | |
| 3 | New Caney | 474 | 5 | 34,770 | Details → | |
| 4 | Splendora | 425 | 5 | 14,088 | Details → | |
| 5 | Granbury | 369 | 8 | 57,212 | Details → | |
| 6 | Vidor | 342 | 5 | 25,193 | Details → | |
| 7 | San Antonio | 337 | 36 | 1,860,461 | Details → | |
| 8 | Fort Worth | 334 | 37 | 982,017 | Details → | |
| 9 | Elmendorf | 334 | 4 | 9,959 | Details → | |
| 10 | Wolfforth | 329 | 3 | 10,300 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Texas
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 8,580 | 1,034 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4,891 | 478 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4,526 | 1,030 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 3,198 | 980 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2,712 | 904 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 2,153 | 639 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,529 | 368 | Yes |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 1,417 | 155 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 952 | 210 | Yes |
| Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium) | Radionuclides | 916 | 67 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Texas has 4,136 community water systems represented across 1,605 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 29,606,384 people. The available records contain 40,010 EPA violations, including 9,706 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 24% of all violations in Texas. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 9,706 | 24.3% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 30,304 | 75.7% |
| Total | 40,010 | 100% |
Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL (disinfectant) and treatment-technique violations. Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Texas have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | 1,183 | 154 | 3,206,570 |
| 2 | Amarillo | 479 | 7 | 236,165 |
| 3 | New Caney | 474 | 5 | 34,770 |
| 4 | Splendora | 425 | 5 | 14,088 |
| 5 | Granbury | 369 | 8 | 57,212 |
| 6 | Vidor | 342 | 5 | 25,193 |
| 7 | San Antonio | 337 | 36 | 1,860,461 |
| 8 | Fort Worth | 334 | 37 | 982,017 |
| 9 | Elmendorf | 334 | 4 | 9,959 |
| 10 | Wolfforth | 329 | 3 | 10,300 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Texas:
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 911 |
| 2022 | 1,195 |
| 2023 | 1,125 |
| 2024 | 1,908 |
| 2025 | 1,362 |
| 2026 | 444 |
Health-based violations have decreased from 911 in 2021 to 444 in 2026, suggesting improving compliance across Texas.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Texas water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 8,580 | 1,034 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4,891 | 478 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4,526 | 1,030 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 3,198 | 980 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2,712 | 904 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 2,153 | 639 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,529 | 368 | Yes |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 1,417 | 155 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 952 | 210 | Yes |
| Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium) | Radionuclides | 916 | 67 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Texas
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems in Texas. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations are EPA violations of a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), a Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) or a required treatment technique - the enforceable standards designed to protect human health. Texas has 9,706 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness; review each violation type and duration to understand possible health implications.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grades summarize ZipCheckup's scoring inputs; review the underlying records for specific issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Texas?
Records for 4,136 community water systems mapped to ZIPs in Texas show 40,010 reported violations, including 9,706 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Texas?
Texas has 40,010 EPA violations on record across 1,605 ZIP codes; 9,706 are classified as health-based violations. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Texas has the worst water quality?
Houston, TX has the most recorded EPA violations (1183) among the cities with mapped water systems in Texas in our data. Check your water supplier's report and test your tap water for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Texas has the best water quality?
Violation records vary by water system across Texas. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Texas drinking water?
EPA regulates over 90 drinking-water contaminants nationally; water systems in Texas monitor those applicable to each system, which can include lead, copper, nitrate, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.