What was found in Surfside Beach'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 | 850 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 483.5 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 326.8 µg/L 409% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 187.45 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 150 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 133.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 110 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 102 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 61.49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 52.64 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52.625 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 44.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Nitrite | 30 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 29.21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 19.08 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 14.9 µg/L 99% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 14.5 µg/L 145% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 10.32 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 9.45 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.7 pCi/L 31% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.76 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 3.03 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 2.47 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.36 pCi/L 47% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2018 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.25 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0046 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH · 5,697 people · 2025 | 1/1 | 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 Surfside Beach
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH | 5,697 |
Frequently asked questions about Surfside Beach tap water
Is Surfside Beach tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Surfside Beach. 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 Surfside Beach?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Surfside Beach, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Surfside Beach's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Surfside Beach include Fluoride, Barium, TTHM, Copper, 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.