Houston, TX Water Quality Report
Is Houston tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Houston, Texas. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Houston, TX tap water safe to drink? Houston, TX tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0.01 ppt across 7 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Houston, TX water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Houston water: 6:2 FTS (0.04 ppt), PFBA (0.03 ppt), PFBS (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Houston, TX? For Houston, TX households, reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Houston, TX Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Houston, TX drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.04 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 0.01 ppt across 7 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- 6:2 FTS: 0.04 ppt
- PFBA: 0.03 ppt
- PFBS: 0.01 ppt
- PFHxA: 0.01 ppt
- PFPeA: 0.01 ppt
Lead in Houston, TX Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 17 lead samples for Houston water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0201 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Houston, TX
Houston public water systems have 3 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Nitrate, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Lead & Copper Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
Source: EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5), the 2023-2025 national testing program spanning 66,000+ public water systems – the broadest drinking water survey ever run in the US. Houston, TX serves a population of roughly 2,320,268.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Houston, TX to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Houston, Texas Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your Texas utility – it is free and updated annually
- Choose a filter certified for PFAS: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis (94-99% removal) or an NSF-53 pitcher
- High-exposure households (pregnancy, infants, immunocompromised) should also consider a PFAS home test kit