Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

Corpus Christi Municipal Water System

Serving 326,000 residents in Corpus Christi, Texas .

National rank 41th percentile
Texas rank 42th percentile
Data confidence High
D
61/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

Corpus Christi Municipal Water System delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 326,000 residents in Corpus Christi, Texas using surface water from the Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (713) 595-8564.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Sample data notice: Some or all data on this page is illustrative sample data, not live measurements from this utility. See our disclaimer. For authoritative info, refer to the utility's published Consumer Confidence Report.
326,000
People served
1
City served
18
Contaminants detected
18
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)
2024
Most recent test

Is Corpus Christi tap water safe to drink?

Corpus Christi Municipal Water System delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.

The utility serves 326,000 residents in Corpus Christi, drawing from surface water (Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi) and disinfecting with chloramine.

Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: PFOA, PFOA, PFOA, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate, Lead, Lead, Lead. 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Corpus Christi Municipal Water System.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

PFOA, PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Chromium-6 detected

Moderate concern

Chromium-6 detected at 0.14 ppb.

Contact Corpus Christi Municipal Water System

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Water Quality Contact

For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.

OfficeCorpus Christi Water Quality Division
DepartmentWater Quality Compliance
Direct line(713) 273-5484

Treatment Plant

Location5347 Treatment Plant Road, Corpus Christi, TX
Operator certificationClass A (State certified)
Treatment capacity65 million gallons/day

Recommended water filters for Corpus Christi

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Chromium-6 requires reverse osmosis for reliable removal. Standard carbon filters do not address it.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

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 61/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
17 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
7 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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 →

Sample test dates: Water samples were collected between 2022 and 2024. Test dates per contaminant are shown in the table below.

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
PFOA
Organic
6.41 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 2023 EPA violation
PFOA
Organic
5.6 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 2024 EPA violation
PFOA
Organic
4.44 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 2022 EPA violation
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
25.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 2024 255× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
24.8 ppb 0.1 60 60 2022 248× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.9 ppb 0.1 60 60 2023 199× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
37.6 ppb 0.6 80 100 2022 63× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
30.5 ppb 0.6 80 100 2024 51× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
23.1 ppb 0.6 80 100 2023 39× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.177 ppb 0.02 0.02 2023 8.8× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.14 ppb 0.02 0.02 2024 7.0× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.133 ppb 0.02 0.02 2022 6.7× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.8 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2024 5.7× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.759 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2023 5.4× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.608 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2022 4.3× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.7 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2024
Lead
Heavy metal
0.772 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2023
Lead
Heavy metal
0.802 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2022
Contaminant Detected (2024) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
30.5 ppb 0.6 80 100 51× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
25.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 255× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.7 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.14 ppb 0.02 0.02 7.0× over
PFOA
Organic
5.6 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 EPA violation
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.8 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 5.7× over
Contaminant Detected (2023) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
23.1 ppb 0.6 80 100 39× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.9 ppb 0.1 60 60 199× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.772 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.177 ppb 0.02 0.02 8.8× over
PFOA
Organic
6.41 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 EPA violation
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.759 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 5.4× over
Contaminant Detected (2022) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
37.6 ppb 0.6 80 100 63× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
24.8 ppb 0.1 60 60 248× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.802 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.133 ppb 0.02 0.02 6.7× over
PFOA
Organic
4.44 ppt 0.004 4 100 100 0.007 EPA violation
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.608 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 4.3× over

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, and Corpus Christi Municipal Water System's Consumer Confidence Report.

Corpus Christi Municipal Water System service area

This water system serves 1 community in Nueces County, Texas. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
TX5084663
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water (Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi)
Disinfection method
Chloramine
Service connections
104,320
Service area
Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas