Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in BAYTOWN, Texas
Tap water in BAYTOWN, Texas receives a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF BAYTOWN. 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 BAYTOWN's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving BAYTOWN.
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 3.9 ppt, 3900x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 37.0 ppb, 616x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromochloroacetic acid detected at 5.43 ppb, 271x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF BAYTOWN (system ID TX1010003) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Resolved |
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 BAYTOWN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in BAYTOWN'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 BAYTOWN'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.75 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
3.9 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 3900× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
37.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 616× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.43 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 271× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 237× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 209× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.52 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 159× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.13 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
18.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.3 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.5 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 30× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.94 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.163 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1× over |
| Chlorite* Disinfection byproduct |
106.8 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.28 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.126 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Fails EU |
| Simazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.12 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
16.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
47.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.18 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate* Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.064 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0104 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
9.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
7.31 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
7.05 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.48 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.63 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0604 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.297 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Asbestos Other |
0.2 | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide* Inorganic |
51.7 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Fails EU |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.54 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexadecanoic acid* Other |
10.9 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
3.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Octadecanoic acid* Other |
33.1 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 BAYTOWN.