What was found in Buda'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1852 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2390 µg/L — CITY OF HAYS · 270 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1669 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1967 µg/L — OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1865 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1878.5 µg/L — CITY OF HAYS · 270 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 206.15 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1450 µg/L — OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 157 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 81.925 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 25.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 25.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 24.5 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 24.305 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 19.52 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 15.7 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.355 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 13.735 pCi/L — OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 10.27 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromoform | 9.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.45 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 8.575 µg/L — CITY OF HAYS · 270 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.325 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.2 µg/L — RUBY RANCH WSC · 738 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.765 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.37 pCi/L 67% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2015 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.2 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: RUBY RANCH WSC · 738 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.988 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: OAK FOREST WSC · 339 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.69 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7300 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: RUBY RANCH WSC · 738 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0170 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 9.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF BUDA · 13,830 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0033 mg/L — CIMARRON PARK WATER · 2,079 people · 2023 | 5/5 | LCR |
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 Buda
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF BUDA | 13,830 |
| CIMARRON PARK WATER | 2,079 |
| RUBY RANCH WSC | 738 |
| OAK FOREST WSC | 339 |
| CITY OF HAYS | 270 |
Frequently asked questions about Buda tap water
Is Buda tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Buda. 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 Buda?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Buda, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Buda's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Buda include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Barium. 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.