Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Austin, Texas
Tap water in Austin, Texas receives a grade of D (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Austin's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Austin.
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 2.33 ppt, 2333x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 28.3 ppb, 471x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromochloroacetic acid detected at 4.18 ppb, 209x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER (system ID TX2270001) 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 Austin
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Austin'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.
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 Austin'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 |
2.33 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2333× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
28.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 471× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.18 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 209× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 209× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 168× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
10.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 104× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 102× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.83 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 94× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.01 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 30× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
8.67 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.57 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.175 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.6 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.06 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.108 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.33 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.79 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Diquat Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.2 ppb | 6.0 | 20.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
11.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.39 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.89 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0271 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.132 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
71.1 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Fails EU |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.682 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexadecanoic acid Other |
7.67 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Octadecanoic acid Other |
4.4 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 AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Austin's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: