What was found in Richmond'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 561.2 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 342 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 542 µg/L — FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 · 15,327 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 473.5 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 227.8 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 419.35 µg/L — GOLDENROD WSC · 85 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 270 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 20 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 165.5 µg/L — FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 · 15,327 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 54.96 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 29.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2025 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 26.08 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 21.505 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 21.455 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 17.34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 16.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 12.7 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.9 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.48 µg/L — GOLDENROD WSC · 85 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.4 pCi/L 43% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.55 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.93 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4.41 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.7 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.835 µg/L — GOLDENROD WSC · 85 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.94 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 · 15,327 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.26 pCi/L 25% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.07 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 · 15,327 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.5410 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0820 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0471 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0039 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0039 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0016 mg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF RICHMOND · 25,326 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0018 mg/L — FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 · 15,327 people · 2023 | 4/4 | 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 Richmond
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF RICHMOND | 25,326 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 25 | 15,327 |
| GOLDENROD WSC | 85 |
| RIVERBEND RV PARK AND RESORT | 60 |
Frequently asked questions about Richmond tap water
Is Richmond tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 34 contaminants in the water serving Richmond. 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 Richmond?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Richmond, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Richmond's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Richmond include Chlorite, Fluoride, Nitrate, Barium, Copper. 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.