Texas Water Quality Report: 21,910 Violations Across 2,649 ZIPs
2,577 water systems · 2,649 ZIP codes · 21,910 violations · Updated 2026-05-31
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-05-31
City Water Quality Map: Texas
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Texas.
Cities with Most Violations in Texas
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock | D | 1,458 | 5 | 276,286 | Details → |
| 2 | Amarillo | B | 1,344 | 5 | 203,341 | Details → |
| 3 | El Paso | A | 414 | 5 | 755,828 | Details → |
| 4 | Vidor | C | 382 | 5 | 16,433 | Details → |
| 5 | Dallas | A | 360 | 5 | 1,409,301 | Details → |
| 6 | Texarkana | B | 306 | 5 | 49,528 | Details → |
| 7 | Laredo | C | 272 | 4 | 271,820 | Details → |
| 8 | Austin | A | 240 | 5 | 1,246,707 | Details → |
| 9 | Beaumont | B | 210 | 5 | 135,882 | Details → |
| 10 | Odessa | D | 207 | 5 | 139,068 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in Texas
| # | City | Grade | Score | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Hood | A | 99/100 | 1 | 35,669 |
| 2 | Itasca | A | 99/100 | 5 | 13,145 |
| 3 | Hawley | A | 99/100 | 1 | 7,830 |
| 4 | Golden | A | 99/100 | 1 | 4,821 |
| 5 | Copeville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 4,375 |
| 6 | Milano | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,891 |
| 7 | Fruitvale | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,747 |
| 8 | Tornillo | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,600 |
| 9 | Industry | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,910 |
| 10 | Forreston | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,277 |
Most Common Contaminants in Texas
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 5,363 | 1,205 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2,985 | 1,082 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,690 | 230 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,681 | 655 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,589 | 654 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,252 | 602 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,031 | 457 | Yes |
| Barium | Inorganic | 890 | 97 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 603 | 169 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 453 | 219 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Texas has 2,577 community water systems serving approximately 50,489,788 people across 2,649 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 21,910 EPA violations, including 5,329 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 | 5,329 | 24.3% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 16,581 | 75.7% |
| Total | 21,910 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). 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 | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock | D | 1,458 | 5 | 276,286 |
| 2 | Amarillo | B | 1,344 | 5 | 203,341 |
| 3 | El Paso | A | 414 | 5 | 755,828 |
| 4 | Vidor | C | 382 | 5 | 16,433 |
| 5 | Dallas | A | 360 | 5 | 1,409,301 |
| 6 | Texarkana | B | 306 | 5 | 49,528 |
| 7 | Laredo | C | 272 | 4 | 271,820 |
| 8 | Austin | A | 240 | 5 | 1,246,707 |
| 9 | Beaumont | B | 210 | 5 | 135,882 |
| 10 | Odessa | D | 207 | 5 | 139,068 |
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.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These Texas cities maintain Grade A water with zero violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Hood | A | 99/100 | 1 | 35,669 |
| 2 | Itasca | A | 99/100 | 5 | 13,145 |
| 3 | Hawley | A | 99/100 | 1 | 7,830 |
| 4 | Golden | A | 99/100 | 1 | 4,821 |
| 5 | Copeville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 4,375 |
| 6 | Milano | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,891 |
| 7 | Fruitvale | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,747 |
| 8 | Tornillo | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,600 |
| 9 | Industry | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,910 |
| 10 | Forreston | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,277 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Texas:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 697 | 697 |
| 2022 | 898 | 898 |
| 2023 | 1,136 | 1,136 |
| 2024 | 3,617 | 3,617 |
| 2025 | 2,691 | 2,691 |
Violations have increased from 697 in 2021 to 2691 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Texas water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 5,363 | 1,205 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2,985 | 1,082 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,690 | 230 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,681 | 655 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,589 | 654 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 1,252 | 602 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,031 | 457 | Yes |
| Barium | Inorganic | 890 | 97 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 603 | 169 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 453 | 219 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Texas
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
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 22,940 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 mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) — the legal limit designed to protect human health. Texas has 5,329 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious 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?
Texas has 2,577 community water systems with 21,910 recorded EPA violations, including 5,329 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code — check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Texas have?
Texas has 21,910 total EPA violations across 2,649 ZIP codes. 5,329 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Texas has the worst water quality?
Lubbock, TX has the most EPA violations among major cities in Texas with 1458 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Texas has the best water quality?
Fort Hood, TX ranks among the best for water quality in Texas with a grade of A. Multiple cities in Texas maintain strong EPA compliance records.
What contaminants are found in Texas drinking water?
Texas water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region — check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.