Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF TEMPLE
CITY OF TEMPLE delivers tap water graded D (58/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 94,935 residents in TEMPLE, Texas using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 254-298-5700.
Is TEMPLE tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF TEMPLE delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (58/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 94,935 residents in TEMPLE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromochloroacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Chlorite, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chlorate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF TEMPLE (system ID TX0140005) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 11/30/2015 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for TEMPLE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF TEMPLE.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 4.08 ppt, 4075x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 35.2 ppb, 586x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromochloroacetic acid detected at 7.91 ppb, 395x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Contact CITY OF TEMPLE
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for TEMPLE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 58/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.08 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4075× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
35.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 586× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.91 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 395× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
48.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 321× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.58 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 253× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
13.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 227× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
18.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 182× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
16.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 169× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.11 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
9.42 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.64 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.76 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.4× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
246.0 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0938 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.23 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
443.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.1 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
65.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.53 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
37.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.76 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.255 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.456 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.72 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.53 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
2.55 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.95 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.338 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.197 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexadecanoic acid Other |
12.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Octadecanoic acid Other |
30.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CITY OF TEMPLE service area
This water system serves 1 community in Bell County, Texas. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for TEMPLE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.