Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

Lubbock Water Utilities

Serving 258,000 residents in Lubbock, Texas .

National rank 31th percentile
Texas rank 21th percentile
Data confidence High
D
57/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

Lubbock Water Utilities delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 258,000 residents in Lubbock, Texas using surface water blended with groundwater from the Lake Meredith/Ogallala. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (713) 763-9022.

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.
258,000
People served
1
City served
18
Contaminants detected
18
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)
2024
Most recent test

Is Lubbock tap water safe to drink?

Lubbock Water Utilities delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.

The utility serves 258,000 residents in Lubbock, drawing from surface water blended with groundwater (Lake Meredith/Ogallala) and disinfecting with chloramine.

Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Arsenic, Arsenic, 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 Lubbock Water Utilities.

Arsenic significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 3.51 ppb, 877x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.

Chromium-6 detected

Moderate concern

Chromium-6 detected at 0.42 ppb.

Contact Lubbock Water Utilities

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.

OfficeLubbock Water Quality Division
DepartmentWater Quality Compliance
Direct line(713) 521-5178

Treatment Plant

Location1181 Treatment Plant Road, Lubbock, TX
Operator certificationClass A (State certified)
Treatment capacity51 million gallons/day

Recommended water filters for Lubbock

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

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 57/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
13 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
6 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
8 / 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
Arsenic
Heavy metal
3.51 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 2023 877× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.9 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 2024 725× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.82 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 2022 705× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
28.9 ppb 0.1 60 60 2024 289× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
27.1 ppb 0.1 60 60 2022 271× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
26.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 2023 264× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
49.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 2022 82× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
39.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 2023 66× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
38.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 2024 64× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.461 ppb 0.02 0.02 2023 23× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.456 ppb 0.02 0.02 2022 23× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.42 ppb 0.02 0.02 2024 21× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.952 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2023 6.8× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.9 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2024 6.4× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.642 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2022 4.6× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.7 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2024
Lead
Heavy metal
0.57 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2023
Lead
Heavy metal
0.541 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2022
Contaminant Detected (2024) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
38.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 64× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
28.9 ppb 0.1 60 60 289× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.7 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.9 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 725× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.42 ppb 0.02 0.02 21× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.9 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 6.4× over
Contaminant Detected (2023) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
39.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 66× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
26.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 264× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.57 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Arsenic
Heavy metal
3.51 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 877× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.461 ppb 0.02 0.02 23× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.952 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 6.8× over
Contaminant Detected (2022) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
49.4 ppb 0.6 80 100 82× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
27.1 ppb 0.1 60 60 271× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.541 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.82 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 705× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.456 ppb 0.02 0.02 23× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.642 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 4.6× 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 Lubbock Water Utilities's Consumer Confidence Report.

Lubbock Water Utilities service area

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

About this water system

Public Water System ID
TX5909966
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water blended with groundwater (Lake Meredith/Ogallala)
Disinfection method
Chloramine
Service connections
82,560
Service area
Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas