Harris County Municipal Utility District 281
EPA ID: TX1013178 · 3,573 people served · 1 ZIP code
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 (TX1013178): no drinking-water violations recorded since 2021. From the earliest to the most recent cycle in the EPA data on file, Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 has logged zero violations for the 3,573 people in its service area - a count of records, not a test result for any home.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Demographics of ZIP Codes Served
The ZIP codes associated with Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 have a median household income of $123,015 and about 39,154 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies).
Environmental Justice Note: On average, 51% of census tracts in the counties mapped to this service area are designated disadvantaged by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST, 2022 version). Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Harris County Municipal Utility District 281's water is classified in EPA records as a groundwater source. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
PFAS in ZIP Codes This System Serves
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with the ZIP codes in this system's area. These results can come from other water systems serving the same ZIP codes; check the UCMR5 section for any results reported for this system. 3 detections recorded.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Texas
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 (EPA ID: TX1013178) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 3,573 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 77377 in Tomball.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| Below the reporting limit | No | 2025-12-31 |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by TX or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 77377 - Tomball
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 (TX1013178) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.
How many people does Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 serve?
Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 serves approximately 3,573 people across 1 ZIP code in Texas.
Where does Harris County Municipal Utility District 281 get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: No PFAS Reported Above Reporting Levels
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were reported above UCMR5 minimum reporting levels.
EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Harris County Municipal Utility District 281, TX. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tx1013178/
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