What was found in Waco'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 | 1182 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1891.5 µg/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2018 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1180 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 7/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 68.5 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 1052.5 µg/L — SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2019 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 715.7 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 968.5 µg/L — TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE - WACO · 3,100 people · 2019 | 8/9 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 189.5 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 62.04 µg/L 78% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 105.19 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 77.365 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 101.9 µg/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2018 | 6/9 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 29 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 91.2 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 86.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHALK BLUFF WSC · 3,852 people · 2023 | 1/9 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromoform | 5.73 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 70.36 µg/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.89 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 14.54 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 63.048 µg/L — CHALK BLUFF WSC · 3,852 people · 2019 | 8/9 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18.105 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50.63 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7.315 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 39.535 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 17.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.2 µg/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 26.5 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2015 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 22 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.86 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 19.14 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 15.523 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 13.355 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 3/9 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.16 µg/L — HERITAGE MINISTRIES · 165 people · 2019 | 9/9 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 13 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.884 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.62 µg/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2018 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 5/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2018 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.6 pCi/L 24% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2018 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.5 pCi/L 30% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 2.5 pCi/L — PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2012 | 4/9 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 2.4 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.23 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.14 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: GHOLSON WSC · 3,903 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: PURE WSC · 1,125 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.8225 µg/L — SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2019 | 2/9 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.4491 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.0305 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: SPRING VALLEY WSC · 2,700 people · 2019 | 1/9 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0076 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2024 | 2/9 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0019 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF WACO · 146,241 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0028 mg/L — TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE - WACO · 3,100 people · 2023 | 9/9 | 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 Waco
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF WACO | 146,241 |
| GHOLSON WSC | 3,903 |
| CHALK BLUFF WSC | 3,852 |
| TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE - WACO | 3,100 |
| SPRING VALLEY WSC | 2,700 |
| PURE WSC | 1,125 |
| MOORES WATER SYSTEM | 285 |
| PATRICK WSC | 220 |
| HERITAGE MINISTRIES | 165 |
Frequently asked questions about Waco tap water
Is Waco tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 36 contaminants in the water serving Waco. 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 Waco?
9 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Waco, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Waco's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Waco include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Cyanide. 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.