What was found in Port Lavaca'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 2132 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 675 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 316.8 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO WSC · 96 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 110.85 µg/L 139% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 90 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SHOALWATER FLATS ASSOCIATION · 171 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 87.5 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SHOALWATER FLATS ASSOCIATION · 171 people · 2015 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 11.56 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 83.24 µg/L — PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 60.04 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 58.84 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 40.385 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 36.94 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 35.91 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 21.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 17.88 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO WSC · 96 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 9.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.4 µg/L — PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 14.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.42 µg/L — PORT ALTO WSC · 96 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.41 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.85 µg/L — PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.655 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO WSC · 96 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.9 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.475 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO WSC · 96 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 0.3330 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0520 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0163 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0142 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0100 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0072 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0065 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0049 mg/L — PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 · 213 people · 2025 | 4/4 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PORT LAVACA · 12,000 people · 2024 | 1/4 | 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 Port Lavaca
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF PORT LAVACA | 12,000 |
| PORT ALTO HOA DISTRICT 1 | 213 |
| SHOALWATER FLATS ASSOCIATION | 171 |
| PORT ALTO WSC | 96 |
Frequently asked questions about Port Lavaca tap water
Is Port Lavaca tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Port Lavaca. 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 Port Lavaca?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Port Lavaca, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Port Lavaca's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Port Lavaca include Fluoride, Copper, Barium, TTHM, Nitrate. 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.