Texas Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Texas, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
City Of Sugar Land has the highest PFAS in Texas at 672 ppt (168x the EPA limit). Orangefield Wsc has the highest lead at 61.3 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Texas
Public water systems in Texas with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Of Sugar Land | – | 672 | 6 | 168x |
| 2 | City Of Gonzales | – | 597 | 4 | 149x |
| 3 | Cross Timbers Wsc | Argyle · 8,751 served | 441 | 5 | 110x |
| 4 | City Of Cameron | Cameron · 5,489 served | 339 | 9 | 85x |
| 5 | City Of Angleton | – | 205 | 4 | 51x |
| 6 | Sienna Plantation Mud 10 | – | 194 | 3 | 49x |
| 7 | City Of Richwood | – | 180 | 6 | 45x |
| 8 | City Of Clute | – | 175 | 5 | 44x |
| 9 | Harleton Wsc | – | 164 | 5 | 41x |
| 10 | Galveston County Wcid 1 | – | 157 | 3 | 39x |
| 11 | Chambers County Mud 1 | Houston · 2,500 served | 157 | 5 | 39x |
| 12 | Galveston County Wcid 8 | – | 156 | 5 | 39x |
Highest Lead Levels in Texas
Community water systems in Texas with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orangefield Wsc | Orangefield · 8,231 served | 61.3 | 4.1x over |
| 2 | Town Of Sunnyvale | Sunnyvale · 8,839 served | 43.3 | 2.9x over |
| 3 | Milligan Wsc | Mckinney · 3,364 served | 42 | 2.8x over |
| 4 | Millersview Doole Wsc | Millersview · 3,987 served | 33.6 | 2.2x over |
| 5 | City Of Aledo | Aledo · 5,521 served | 33.5 | 2.2x over |
| 6 | City Of Emory | Emory · 3,762 served | 32 | 2.1x over |
| 7 | City Of Center | Center · 5,450 served | 30 | 2.0x over |
| 8 | City Of Roscoe | Roscoe · 1,238 served | 26.7 | 1.8x over |
| 9 | City Of White Settlement | White Settlement · 18,522 served | 25 | 1.7x over |
| 10 | Goodfellow Air Force Base | Goodfellow Afb · 5,241 served | 25 | 1.7x over |
| 11 | Glendale Wsc | Trinity · 1,458 served | 25 | 1.7x over |
| 12 | City Of Ranger | Ranger · 2,629 served | 24.4 | 1.6x over |
Most EPA Violations in Texas
Community water systems in Texas with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tempe Wsc 1 | Livingston · 2,725 served | 189 |
| 2 | City Of Brady Water System | Brady · 5,371 served | 126 |
| 3 | Millersview Doole Wsc | Millersview · 3,987 served | 125 |
| 4 | City Of Mason | Mason · 2,228 served | 83 |
| 5 | City Of Huxley | Shelbyville · 1,930 served | 75 |
| 6 | Duval County Crd Benavides | Benavides · 2,285 served | 65 |
| 7 | City Of Wolfforth | Wolfforth · 9,600 served | 64 |
| 8 | Rra Arrowhead Lake Lots | Wichita Falls · 1,770 served | 62 |
| 9 | Callahan County Wsc | Clyde · 3,747 served | 60 |
| 10 | Pb & Sc Water Supply Corporation | Pointblank · 2,163 served | 49 |
| 11 | City Of Roscoe | Roscoe · 1,238 served | 48 |
| 12 | City Of Arp | Arp · 1,249 served | 47 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Texas?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), City Of Sugar Land had the highest recorded PFAS level in Texas at 672 ppt - about 168x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Texas water system has the highest lead levels?
Orangefield Wsc in Orangefield had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Texas under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 61.3 ppb - 4.1x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Texas water system has the most EPA violations?
Tempe Wsc 1 in Livingston has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Texas, with 189 violations.
Where does the Texas water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Texas Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Texas water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.