City of Merkel
EPA ID: TX2210002 · 2,494 people served · 1 ZIP code
From the earliest to the most recent cycle in the five-year EPA window, City of Merkel has logged zero violations — no MCL exceedances, no health advisories, and no enforcement activity across the entire period for the 2,494 people in its service area, a record that stands up well against both state and national benchmarks.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2021) to 4 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Merkel Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The City of Merkel serves a community with a median household income of $71,346 and an estimated 6,080 residents across its service area. Approximately 60% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 38% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. 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?
City of Merkel's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Taylor County, Texas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
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
City of Merkel (EPA ID: TX2210002) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 2,494 people from surface water sources.
This system serves ZIP code 79536 in Merkel.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.
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: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
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.
- 79536 — Merkel
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Merkel (TX2210002) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Merkel water safe to drink?
Based on EPA records, City of Merkel has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.
How many people does City of Merkel serve?
City of Merkel serves approximately 2,494 people across 1 ZIP code in Texas.
Where does City of Merkel get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.