What was found in Bowie's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 575.76 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1433.8 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 360 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 347.6 µg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 266 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2013 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 180.8 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 71.61 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 48.905 µg/L 82% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 23.415 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.025 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 37.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 23.045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 32.45 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.285 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.38 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.961 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.68 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.585 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.665 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.3895 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.8425 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.8 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.32 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.743 µg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.83 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.5 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2016 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.3745 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.272 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.9600 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.2071 mg/L — AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC · 750 people · 2026 | 2/2 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0087 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BOWIE · 5,534 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bowie
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF BOWIE | 5,534 |
| AMON G CARTER LAKE WSC | 750 |
Frequently asked questions about Bowie tap water
Is Bowie tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Bowie. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bowie?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bowie, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bowie's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bowie include Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Cyanide. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.