Waller County, Texas: drinking water report. Waller County sits northwest of Houston with about 56,000 residents in a rapidly growing suburban-rural…
Waller County sits northwest of Houston with about 56,000 residents in a rapidly growing suburban-rural transition zone. Most communities rely on groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer system, with smaller systems serving Hempstead, Brookshire, and surrounding areas. The county's proximity to Houston means it catches the outward expansion of both population and industrial activity, including petrochemical operations along the Highway 290 corridor.
The Gulf Coast Aquifer in the Waller County area shows naturally elevated arsenic in some production zones. According to TCEQ's 2024 drinking water compliance data, two public water systems in the county have reported arsenic levels between 8-12 ppb – approaching or exceeding the MCL of 10 ppb. As Houston-area groundwater pumping draws down the regional aquifer, Waller County wells may need to tap deeper zones where arsenic concentrations tend to be higher.
The former Camp Wallace military site and agricultural chemical use in the area have contributed additional contamination. A 2024 TCEQ investigation identified PFAS in one public water system in the county at 8 ppt combined – below the federal MCL but above detection limits.
Waller County's rapid growth is outpacing water infrastructure in some areas. If you are on a small water system or private well, testing for arsenic should be a priority given the documented aquifer chemistry in this part of the Gulf Coast.
Check your water for current data at your address. For arsenic, reverse osmosis and adsorptive media filters are the effective options. Our water filter guide covers systems certified for naturally occurring contaminants. Get your detailed report for trends, and visit our Texas page for statewide patterns.