Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in El Paso, Texas
Tap water in El Paso, Texas receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by EL PASO WATER UTILITIES PUBLIC SERVICE B. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in El Paso's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving El Paso.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 4.07 ppb, 1018x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 18.1 ppb, 301x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 21.2 ppb, 141x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for EL PASO WATER UTILITIES PUBLIC SERVICE B (system ID TX0710002) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 05/01/2023 | 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 El Paso
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in El Paso'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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 El Paso'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.07 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1018× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 301× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
21.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.4 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.14 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 107× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.69 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.98 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.88 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.48 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
1.34 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.31 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.31 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.19 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.917 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 6.6× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.33 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.46 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.5 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.385 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.7× over |
| Vanadium Other |
9.79 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.108 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.92 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
28.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.126 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
60.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.48 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.12 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0109 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
1.4 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.2 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.28 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
1.05 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.885 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.533 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.363 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.14 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethylbenzene Volatile organic compound |
0.0138 ppb | 300.0 | 700.0 | 1 | 10 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Picloram Other |
0.00744 ppb | 166.0 | 500.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total) Volatile organic compound |
0.0792 ppb | 1800.0 | 10000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-bromo-1,2-dimethylbenzene Volatile organic compound |
1.1 ppb | — | — | 1 | 10 | 0.15 | — | Fails EU |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
2.12 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethanethiol Other |
0.8 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.519 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.141 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Isooctyl alcohol Other |
1.05 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
56.6 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Oxyfluorfen Other |
0.00151 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Permethrin Other |
0.00169 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 EL PASO WATER UTILITIES PUBLIC SERVICE B.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
El Paso's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: