EPA ID TX1010013 · checked 16 Oct 2026
Houston tap water: what EPA testing found
City of Houston (EPA record: CITY OF HOUSTON) serves 2,970,543 people in TX from surface water. It also sells water to other utilities.
What the data shows
PFAS found, below EPA’s limits (PFBA, PFHxA, PFPeA, 6:2 FTS)
4 PFAS compounds reached EPA’s reporting level in at least one sample; no sampling point averaged above a limit.
What fits: Pick a filter whose listing certifies PFOA/PFOS (or total PFAS) reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58. Under-sink reverse osmosis units and some carbon filters and pitchers carry it; the certification for the exact model is what counts, not the filter type.
Certified — IAPMO listing, checked 16 Oct 2026- Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10 Cup PitcherPitcher filter · ZEROP10
- PUR PLUS Lead Reducing Pitcher & Dispenser Replacement FilterPitcher filter · PPF951K
- ZeroWater 5-Stage Replacement FilterPitcher filter · ZR-017
- Culligan Scout 2.25 Gallon Gravity Countertop System with MaxClear…Countertop dispenser · MCSP
- PUR Faucet Filtration System, VerticalFaucet-mount filter · FM-3333B
- PUR PLUS Faucet Filtration System – Horizontal, ChromeFaucet-mount filter · PFM400H
- AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water PurifierCountertop reverse osmosis · AT2000
- Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-MF-1
- Culligan EZ-Change Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration SystemUnder-sink filter · US-EZ-4
- APEC Water Tankless RO System 4 Stage Water Filter, 1000 GPD Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · ROTL-A1000
- Waterdrop 800 GPD Tankless Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P800Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P800
- Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P600Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P600
Brand says certified — not found in IAPMO’s listing; check NSF- Aquasana Clean Water MachineCountertop dispenser · AQ-CWM2-B · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6200 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300M · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- A. O. Smith High Efficiency Reverse Osmosis SystemUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AOS-HERO-CHR · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis Water FilterUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AQ-SFRO2 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Culligan Aquasential Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · Aquasential Smart RO · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop Instant Hot Water Dispenser, Reverse Osmosis System, K6Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-K6-W · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop X Series Reverse Osmosis System, X12Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-X12 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana HealthShield Whole House Water Filtration SystemWhole-house filter · WH-HS · check NSF’s listing yourself
NSF’s and WQA’s listings can’t be checked automatically; each product page also links to WQA’s.
Lithium above EPA’s screening level (there is no legal limit)
Highest result 33.9 µg/L; EPA’s health reference level for screening is 10 µg/L.
What fits: EPA has no lithium limit, and no NSF/ANSI standard has a lithium reduction claim, so no home filter is certified for lithium.
Treatment-technique violation (turbidity or filtration)
1 health-based violation since 2016, the latest starting 2025-05-01.
What fits: These are treatment-technique rules for the plant (turbidity and filtration). The utility fixes them; follow its public notices, including any boil-water advisory.
Lead from home plumbing (not in this data)
UCMR 5 does not test for lead, and lead usually enters water from service lines and plumbing inside buildings. Your utility’s lead service line inventory says whether your address is served by a lead line.
What fits: Lead comes from lead service lines, solder and fixtures inside buildings, not usually from the treatment plant. Use a filter certified for lead reduction (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58) at the tap you drink from.
Certified — IAPMO listing, checked 16 Oct 2026- Brita Elite Replacement Filter, formerly Longlast+Pitcher filter · OB06
- Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10 Cup PitcherPitcher filter · ZEROP10
- PUR PLUS Lead Reducing Pitcher & Dispenser Replacement FilterPitcher filter · PPF951K
- ZeroWater 5-Stage Replacement FilterPitcher filter · ZR-017
- Culligan Scout 2.25 Gallon Gravity Countertop System with MaxClear…Countertop dispenser · MCSP
- PUR Faucet Filtration System, VerticalFaucet-mount filter · FM-3333B
- PUR PLUS Faucet Filtration System – Horizontal, ChromeFaucet-mount filter · PFM400H
- AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water PurifierCountertop reverse osmosis · AT2000
- Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-MF-1
- Culligan EZ-Change Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration SystemUnder-sink filter · US-EZ-4
- Waterdrop 800 GPD Tankless Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P800Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P800
- Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P600Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P600
Brand says certified — not found in IAPMO’s listing; check NSF- LifeStraw Home 7-Cup Glass Water Filter PitcherPitcher filter · LSH7SPC101 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Clean Water MachineCountertop dispenser · AQ-CWM2-B · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Brita Elite Advanced Water Filter Faucet System with Brita…Faucet-mount filter · FF-100 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System with Brita Hub FilterCountertop filter · 87340 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6200 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300M · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- A. O. Smith High Efficiency Reverse Osmosis SystemUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AOS-HERO-CHR · check NSF’s listing yourself
- APEC Water Tankless RO System 4 Stage Water Filter, 1000 GPD Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · ROTL-A1000 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- APEC Water Ultimate 5-Stage 90 GPD High Output Reverse Osmosis Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · RO-90 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis Water FilterUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AQ-SFRO2 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Culligan Aquasential Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · Aquasential Smart RO · check NSF’s listing yourself
- iSpring RCC7AK, NSF Certified 75 GPD, Alkaline 6-Stage Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · RCC7AK · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop X Series Reverse Osmosis System, X12Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-X12 · check NSF’s listing yourself
NSF’s and WQA’s listings can’t be checked automatically; each product page also links to WQA’s.
PFAS and lithium (EPA UCMR 5)
2,880 results from 39 sampling points, 6 Feb 2023 to 21 Feb 2025. Averages count results below EPA’s reporting level as zero, as the PFAS rule does. Every number links to EPA’s UCMR 5 Data Finder (search PWSID TX1010013). Limits: EPA PFAS rule.
| Contaminant | Detected in | Highest result | Average | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 of 96 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 4 ng/L |
| PFOS | 0 of 96 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 4 ng/L |
| PFHxS | 0 of 96 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| PFNA | 0 of 96 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| HFPO-DA | 0 of 96 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| PFBA | 9 of 96 | 10.6 ng/L | 0.67 ng/L | none |
| PFHxA | 16 of 96 | 5.1 ng/L | 0.62 ng/L | none |
| PFPeA | 11 of 96 | 6.7 ng/L | 0.46 ng/L | none |
| 6:2 FTS | 10 of 96 | 42.6 ng/L | 1.66 ng/L | none |
| Lithium | 69 of 96 | 33.9 µg/L | 12.4 µg/L | none (screening level 10 µg/L) |
* PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA limits (and the PFAS hazard index) are in the rule, but EPA proposed on 20 May 2026 to rescind them; not final as of 16 Oct 2026. UCMR 5 results are screening data, not compliance results: compliance uses quarterly running averages from 2029. Source file: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data (dated 15 Oct 2026).
Health-based violations since 2016
| Period began | Contaminant or rule | Violation | Measured | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2025 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | – | Returned to Compliance (1 Jul 2025) |
Source: EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts and the ECHO report for TX1010013, retrieved 16 Oct 2026.
Hardness
7.9 grains per gallon (average, 2025), from the utility’s water report checked 16 Oct 2026. Size a softener for this water.
Places and ZIP codes served
Houston, Humble, Pasadena, Bellaire, Deer Park, Friendswood, Galena Park, Missouri City, South Houston, Stafford, Sugar Land, Webster.
77002 77003 77004 77005 77006 77007 77008 77009 77010 77011 77012 77013 77014 77015 77016 77017 77018 77019 77020 77021 77022 77023 77024 77025 77026 77027 77028 77029 77030 77031 77032 77033 77034 77035 77036 77037 77038 77040 77041 77042 77043 77044 77045 77046 77047 77048 77049 77050 77051 77053 77054 77055 77056 77057 77059 77060 77061 77063 77064 77067 77071 77072 77073 77074 77075 77076 77077 77078 77079 77080 77081 77082 77083 77084 77085 77086 77087 77088 77089 77090 77091 77092 77093 77094 77096 77098 77099 77338 77346 77396 77401 77477 77489 77498 77503 77504 77506 77536 77546 77547 77587 77598
ZIP codes the system reported to EPA for UCMR 5; place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). A ZIP code can be split between systems.