What was found in Austin's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1380 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1355.5 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 466.25 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1150.8999999999971 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1042.5 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 19.21999999999999 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 73.71999999999998 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 16.439999999999994 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 61.245 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9.739999999999997 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.329999999999988 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 18.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.449999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.009999999999994 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.399999999999999 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.679999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.319999999999993 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.499999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.105 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.665 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.99 µg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.865 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.88 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.7399999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.395 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.27 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.7949999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA · 13,519 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0040 mg/L — AUSTIN WATERWORKS · 3,600 people · 2025 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Austin
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GRAND PRAIRIE BAYOU 2 PWA | 13,519 |
| AUSTIN WATERWORKS | 3,600 |
Frequently asked questions about Austin tap water
Is Austin tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Austin. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Austin?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Austin, Arkansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Austin's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Austin include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.