Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in ABILENE, Texas
Tap water in ABILENE, Texas receives a grade of F (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF ABILENE. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in ABILENE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving ABILENE.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 18.8 ppt, 18792x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 31.2 ppb, 520x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernDibromoacetic acid detected at 10.2 ppb, 341x above the EWG health guideline of 0.03 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.144 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF ABILENE (system ID TX2210001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for ABILENE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ABILENE's 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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in ABILENE's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
18.8 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
16.4 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.47 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 520× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 341× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.25 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 262× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 234× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 151× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 97× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.71 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
20.1 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.144 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 36× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.69 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
284.6 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.253 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.8× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.666 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
256.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0229 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.49 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.1× over |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.733 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0604 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Benzo[a]pyrene Other |
0.00167 ppb | 0.007 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
157.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
10.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.71 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.52 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
25.4 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
15.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
13.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.647 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
11.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
6.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.106 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
6.03 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.885 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.267 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
93.0 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Fails EU |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.74 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0333 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
16.1 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from CITY OF ABILENE.