Galveston County, Texas: drinking water report. Galveston County extends from the mainland suburbs south of Houston to Galveston Island, serving about…
Galveston County extends from the mainland suburbs south of Houston to Galveston Island, serving about 350,000 residents. Water comes primarily from surface sources through the Gulf Coast Water Authority, which draws from the Brazos River. The island community of Galveston receives water via a pipeline from the mainland. Hurricane vulnerability and saltwater intrusion are constant infrastructure concerns.
Galveston County's coastal location creates unique water quality dynamics. Hurricane storm surge can flood infrastructure, and saltwater intrusion threatens groundwater sources near the coast. The 2008 Hurricane Ike caused extensive damage to water infrastructure on Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
UCMR5 data shows low-level PFAS detections in county systems. Scholes International Airport on Galveston Island and industrial facilities along the Houston Ship Channel's southern reach are potential PFAS sources. According to the TCEQ's 2024 compliance data, county systems met federal standards.
Coastal communities should have backup water plans for hurricane season. Saltwater intrusion and storm-related quality disruptions are real risks.
Check your water for current data in your area. A reverse osmosis system handles saltwater minerals, PFAS, and post-storm water quality variability. Our water filter guide covers options. Pull your detailed report, and visit our Texas page for statewide data.
Drinking water is one exposure route. These federal datasets also cover Galveston County, TX.
The EPA places Galveston County, TX in Zone 3 - the EPA's lowest-risk category, with a predicted average indoor radon level below 2 pCi/L. Zone maps predict an area's radon potential from geology and existing indoor readings; they say nothing about a specific house. Testing is the only way to know your own level.
39% of homes in Galveston County, TX were built before 1980, and 8% before 1950. Residential lead paint was banned in 1978, so housing age is the strongest available proxy for lead-paint exposure. This describes the county's housing stock, not any one home.
Modelled annual fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) in Galveston County, TX averages 8.6 µg/m³, within the EPA's annual standard of 9 µg/m³. These are CDC modelled county estimates rather than readings from a specific monitor.
How radon zones work · Air quality by county · Lead exposure guide
15 public water systems serving Galveston County, TX have EPA lead testing on record. The reported lead sample skews toward systems that already flagged a problem, so its exceedance rate is not directly comparable with other areas. 4 water systems serving Galveston County, TX carry a health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation.
| Most-cited violation type | Systems affected |
|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 2 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1 |
| Total Coliform Rule | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | 1 |
Source: EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap sampling and EPA SDWIS Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement records, aggregated from the public water systems serving this county. Figures are counts of water systems, not a test of any individual home or tap.