San Antonio, TX Water Quality Report
Is San Antonio tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for San Antonio, Texas. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is San Antonio tap water safe to drink? San Antonio tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 13.45 ppt across 4 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in San Antonio water? Top PFAS compounds detected in San Antonio water: lithium (25.5 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt), PFBS (0 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in San Antonio? 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.
San Antonio Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in San Antonio drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 25.5 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 13.45 ppt across 4 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 25.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 0.01 ppt
- PFBS: 0 ppt
- PFPeA: 0 ppt
Lead in San Antonio Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 6 lead samples for San Antonio water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.00325 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.
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 San Antonio: approximately 1,547,253.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare San Antonio to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What San Antonio Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually