McAllen, TX Water Quality Report

Is McAllen tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for McAllen, Texas. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is McAllen tap water safe to drink? McAllen tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 10.86 ppt across 9 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in McAllen water? Top PFAS compounds detected in McAllen water: lithium (51.8 ppt), PFBA (0.03 ppt), PFHxA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in McAllen? 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.

McAllen Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in McAllen drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 51.8 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 10.86 ppt across 9 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 51.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.03 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHxS: 0.01 ppt

Lead in McAllen Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 10 lead samples for McAllen water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0023 mg/L (within 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 McAllen

McAllen public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including 1009. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of McAllen: approximately 142,210.

ZIP Codes Served

78501, 78502, 78503, 78504, 78505

What McAllen Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually