What was found in Highlands'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 | 840 µg/L 8.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 787.5 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2015 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 748.5 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 769 µg/L — COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 670 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 47.14 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 150.9 µg/L — CORBELLO WATER SYSTEM · 126 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 50.905 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57 µg/L — COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 45.09 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 51.12 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 50 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2015 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 32.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.385 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.73 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.76 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 20 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CORBELLO WATER SYSTEM · 126 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.08 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.055 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 11.38 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.68 µg/L — HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.4 µg/L — COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.72 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.55 µg/L — COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 11.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 9.025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 8.9 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 6.12 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.465 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B · 672 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.7 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.5 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2016 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9550 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION · 1,677 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0086 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0074 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 · 8,559 people · 2024 | 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 Highlands
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HARRIS COUNTY WCID 1 | 8,559 |
| COUNTRY TERRACE SUBDIVISION | 1,677 |
| HARRIS COUNTY FWSD 1B | 672 |
| CHINQUAPIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 148 |
| CORBELLO WATER SYSTEM | 126 |
Frequently asked questions about Highlands tap water
Is Highlands tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Highlands. 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 Highlands?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Highlands, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Highlands's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Highlands include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, 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.