What was found in Rockdale'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 | 942.5 µg/L 9.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1188.5 µg/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 733 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1188 µg/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 261.6 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 539.75 µg/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 165 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 297 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 184.2 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 14.22 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 107.1 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.112 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58.54 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 9.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38.8 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.332 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.16 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2023 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.145 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.21 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 19.7625 µg/L 198% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.79 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.8 µg/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.32 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.33 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.3 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.24 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 8.675 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.525 pCi/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 8.04 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.51 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.83 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.315 pCi/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.025 pCi/L 61% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.265 pCi/L — CITY OF ROCKDALE · 5,460 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.88 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.18 µg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.9 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.773 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.7 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.00083 mg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC · 11,739 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0012 mg/L — MINERVA WSC · 250 people · 2025 | 3/3 | 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 Rockdale
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOUTHWEST MILAM WSC | 11,739 |
| CITY OF ROCKDALE | 5,460 |
| MINERVA WSC | 250 |
Frequently asked questions about Rockdale tap water
Is Rockdale tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Rockdale. 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 Rockdale?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Rockdale, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Rockdale's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Rockdale include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, 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.