Houston Water Quality Isn’t as Clean as You Think
Quick Summary: Houston’s 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report reveals a mix of contaminants that meet federal limits but still pose health concerns, including PFAS, pesticides, radioactive particles, and disinfection byproducts. While New York City’s tap water tested exceptionally clean, Houston’s surface water sources remain vulnerable to agricultural runoff, industrial activity, and aging infrastructure. Culligan of Houston offers solutions like reverse osmosis, whole-house filtration, and water softeners to help families protect their health and improve water quality beyond “safe on paper” standards.
New York City may get credit for having some of the “best drinking water” in the country, but Houston residents don’t share that luxury. According to the City of Houston’s 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) required under the Consumer Confidence Rule, the city’s water supply technically meets federal and state standards. But when you dig deeper into the data, you see contaminants, heavy metals, and chemicals that pose risks even at trace levels.
Culligan recently put New York City’s tap water under the microscope using its at-home testing kit, checking both for traditional contaminants (like heavy metals and minerals) and so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS). They tested for 55 different PFAS compounds and found only one: perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) at 2.2 parts per trillion, which is above the Environmental Working Group’s guideline of 1 ppt but still extremely low. All 42 of the usual suspects: lead, arsenic, copper, etc., were either undetectable or well below national safety thresholds as set by the U.S. EPA. Culligan’s lab manager concluded that while the levels were low, residents who want extra protection (especially from PFAS) might consider adding a PFAS-specific water filter or reverse osmosis system.
Houston Public Works, which manages the city’s community water systems, delivers water to more than 2.4 million people. It works closely with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure compliance with government regulations. But “compliance” doesn’t always mean “clean.” As the report makes clear, the quality of drinking water can still be affected by animal waste, human waste, industrial activity, and runoff that make their way into Houston’s surface water reservoirs and groundwater treatment plants.
Houston’s water may be ‘Superior’ on paper, but every glass can still carry contaminants like PFAS, radioactive particles, pesticides, and disinfection byproducts that no one wants in their home.
Where Houston’s Water Comes From
Houston’s water comes from a mix of surface water sources and groundwater:
- Lake Houston (part of the San Jacinto River system)
- Lake Conroe (San Jacinto River basin)
- Lake Livingston (Trinity River System)
- 104 groundwater wells pulling from the Evangeline Aquifers and Chicot Aquifers
In 2024, about 86.5% of the water supply came from surface water treatment plants, while 13.5% came from groundwater treatment plants.
Because rivers and reservoirs are open to runoff, Houston’s surface water is vulnerable to animal waste, fertilizers, pesticides, and industrial discharges. Groundwater is somewhat shielded, but the report shows detections of arsenic, radium, and even Chromium 6 (hexavalent chromium), a toxic form of chromium studied for its chronic toxicity and potential to cause kidney damage.
Events like Hurricane Harvey have also worsened the risk of contamination, pushing pollutants and metals in drinking water into the city’s reservoirs and aquifers.
Contaminants Detected in Houston Tap Water
The drinking water quality reports from Houston reveal contaminants that are measured using standard solutions, standard calibrations, sample preparation, and trace metal detection levels.
Here’s what was found in the latest testing:
Microbial Contaminants
Total coliform bacteria were present in up to 4.5% of samples. While disinfection reduces the risk, microbes from human waste and animal waste still represent a potential threat.
Inorganic Contaminants & Heavy Metals
- Arsenic: Detected up to 9.9 ppb, just below the EPA’s 10 ppb limit. Long-term exposure is linked to chronic toxicity and cancer.
- Barium: Up to 0.36 ppm, which can affect heart and kidney function.
- Cyanide: Up to 200 ppb, often associated with industrial discharges.
- Chromium 6 (Hexavalent Chromium): Trace detections reported. Known from EPA’s toxicological review to increase cancer risk.
Nitrates and Nitrites
- Nitrate: Measured up to 1.48 ppm, from fertilizer and sewage. Linked to blood chemistry changes and “blue baby syndrome” in infants.
Radioactive Contaminants
- Combined Radium: Found at 1.91 pCi/L.
- Gross Alpha and Beta: Up to 7.1 pCi/L (alpha) and 4.3 pCi/L (beta). These levels remain under federal limits but highlight ongoing exposure to radioactive material in Houston’s community water systems.
Herbicides and Pesticides
- Atrazine: Up to 2.3 ppb, a hormone-disrupting herbicide.
- Simazine: Detected in smaller amounts.
Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
Houston uses chlorine at its surface water treatment plants. But chlorine reacts with organic matter, creating disinfection byproducts like:
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): Highest average 39 ppb
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): Highest average 45 ppb Byproducts like bromochloroacetic acid are linked to cancer and liver damage.
Lead and Copper Risks
Unregulated Contaminants
Under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, Houston tested for lithium, with detections from 10–33 ppb. While not yet regulated, lithium is being studied for endocrine effects in peer-reviewed literature studies.
Why Houston Water Quality Should Concern You
Even when ppm levels are under federal limits, the Consumer Confidence Report makes it clear that Houston water carries substances associated with cancer, hormone disruption, and organ damage.
- Government regulations lag behind science. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) argues that many “safe” levels are far higher than they should be.
- Emerging contaminants remain unregulated. Lithium, PFAS, and other chemicals are under study by universities like the College of Science, Engineering, Technology (COSET), where researchers like Daryl Wilkerson, Reem Abulateef, and Bobby Wilson analyze water quality and experimental protocols for safer detection.
- Localized risks. Different zip code samples across Houston show variation in results, depending on which sources are used and which surface water treatment plants or groundwater wells supply the neighborhood.
How Culligan of Houston Can Help
Instead of waiting for stricter regulations, Houston families can take control of their water treatment at home. Culligan systems provide added protection beyond what public water suppliers can deliver:
- Reverse Osmosis Systems: Effective for arsenic, nitrates, Chromium 6, lead, copper, and radionuclides.
- Whole-House Filtration: Uses activated carbon to remove chlorine taste, odor, and disinfection byproducts.
- Water Softeners: Reduce hardness that damages appliances and plumbing.
- Water Filters: Point-of-use filters designed for the risk of contamination in Houston’s supply.
Culligan bases its recommendations on drinking water quality reports, EWG’s Tap Water Database, and real-world testing from Houston Public Works.
Houston’s water quality reports may check the compliance box, but contaminants like Chromium 6, arsenic, haloacetic acids, and radioactive materials show that the city’s quality of drinking water is far from perfect. Between surface water sources like the Trinity River System and groundwater wells in the Evangeline and Chicot Aquifers, the demand for water suppliers often forces compromises.
For Houston families, the safest choice isn’t waiting on the next Consumer Confidence Report: it’s taking control at home with Culligan water filters, reverse osmosis, and advanced water treatment.
