Houston, Texas Tap Water Quality Report
Serving utility: City of Houston
Updated March 2026 • Data from EWG Tap Water Database & EPA SDWIS
High Priority Concerns
Houston tap water has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines, including Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Bromochloroacetic acid. Additionally, 16 known or suspected carcinogens were detected, including Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5).
Water Provider Information
Contaminants Detected
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EWG Guideline | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) carcinogen | 36 ppb | 0.06 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Arsenic carcinogen | 2.06 ppb | 0.00 ppb | 10 ppb | Above guideline |
| Bromochloroacetic acid | 4.57 ppb | 0.02 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) carcinogen | 21.20 ppb | 0.10 ppb | 60 ppb | Above guideline |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) carcinogen | 30.40 ppb | 0.15 ppb | 80 ppb | Above guideline |
| Bromodichloromethane carcinogen | 6.19 ppb | 0.06 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Dichloroacetic acid carcinogen | 15.10 ppb | 0.20 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Trichloroacetic acid carcinogen | 4.54 ppb | 0.10 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) carcinogen | 0.75 ppb | 0.02 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Chloroform carcinogen | 13.70 ppb | 0.40 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid | 0.97 ppb | 0.03 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Dibromochloromethane carcinogen | 2.01 ppb | 0.10 ppb | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) | 0.85 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above guideline |
| Uranium carcinogen | 2.19 pCi/L | 0.43 pCi/L | 20 pCi/L | Above guideline |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) | 1.69 ppt | 1 ppt | No legal limit | Above guideline |
| Nitrate carcinogen | 0.15 ppm | 0.14 ppm | 10 ppm | Above guideline |
| Atrazine | 0.10 ppb | 0.10 ppb | 3 ppb | Above guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane carcinogen | 0.01 ppb | 0.35 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| 2-methyl-1-propene | 3.50 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Aluminum | 101.90 ppb | 600 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Barium | 158.80 ppb | 700 ppb | 2,000 ppb | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane | 0.00 ppb | 0.06 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Bromoform carcinogen | 0.20 ppb | 0.50 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Chlorate | 31.30 ppb | 210 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Cobalt | 0.01 ppb | 70 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Cyanide | 22.10 ppb | N/A | 200 ppb | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate carcinogen | 0.08 ppb | 3 ppb | 6 ppb | Below guideline |
| Erucylamide | 3 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Ethylbenzene carcinogen | 0.02 ppb | 300 ppb | 700 ppb | Below guideline |
| Fluoride | 0.26 ppm | N/A | 4 ppm | Below guideline |
| Germanium | 0.12 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Hexadecanoic acid | 15.30 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Lithium | 12 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Manganese | 7.29 ppb | 100 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Methyl isobutyl ketone | 0.08 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum | 1.99 ppb | 40 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid | 0.57 ppb | 53 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Octadecanoic acid | 32.80 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Oleic acid | 3.20 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) | 0.69 ppt | 1,000 ppt | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) | 0.63 ppt | 1,000 ppt | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) | 0.47 ppt | 1,000 ppt | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Picloram | 0.00 ppb | 166 ppb | 500 ppb | Below guideline |
| Selenium | 1.28 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below guideline |
| Simazine | 0.03 ppb | 0.10 ppb | 4 ppb | Below guideline |
| Strontium | 0.36 ppb | 1,500 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Thallium | 0.00 ppb | 0.10 ppb | 2 ppb | Below guideline |
| Toluene | 0.01 ppb | 150 ppb | 1,000 ppb | Below guideline |
| Vanadium | 1.91 ppb | 21 ppb | No legal limit | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total) | 0.13 ppb | 1,800 ppb | 10,000 ppb | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine | 0.00 ppb | N/A | No legal limit | Below guideline |
Health Context
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) carcinogen
Exposure to elevated levels of this contaminant may pose health risks. See EWG and EPA guidelines for more information.
Arsenic carcinogen
Long-term exposure increases risk of skin cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer; chronic exposure causes neurological effects and cardiovascular disease.
Bromochloroacetic acid
Exposure to elevated levels of this contaminant may pose health risks. See EWG and EPA guidelines for more information.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) carcinogen
Exposure to elevated levels of this contaminant may pose health risks. See EWG and EPA guidelines for more information.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) carcinogen
Exposure to elevated levels of this contaminant may pose health risks. See EWG and EPA guidelines for more information.
Recommended Filtration for This Water
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Shop Hydrogen FlaskFrequently Asked Questions
Is Houston tap water safe to drink?
Houston tap water meets EPA legal standards for drinking water. However, 17 contaminants exceed stricter EWG health guidelines, and 16 known carcinogens were detected. While legally compliant, additional filtration is recommended for optimal safety.
What contaminants are in Houston water?
A total of 51 contaminants were detected in Houston tap water, including Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic. Of these, 17 exceed EWG health guidelines.
What's the best water filter for Houston?
For Houston tap water, we recommend a reverse osmosis (RO) system for drinking water — it removes up to 99.9% of contaminants including heavy metals, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts. For shower and bath water, a whole-home filtration system reduces chlorine and volatile organics.
Where does Houston get its water?
Houston tap water is provided by City of Houston, serving approximately 2,202,531 people. For detailed source water information, contact your local utility or visit the EPA's SDWIS database.
Nearby City Water Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: March 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
