What was found in Abilene'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 | 1400 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 493.25 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 851.1 µg/L — VIEW CAPS WSC · 2,928 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 797.05 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 600 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 277 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 170 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 75.085 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 117 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 48.91 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 80.7 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 33.85 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 55.34 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 48.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 22.235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.98 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 19.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.5 µg/L — POTOSI WSC · 7,413 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.72 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.605 µg/L — VIEW CAPS WSC · 2,928 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.91 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 13.12 µg/L — POTOSI WSC · 7,413 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.582 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.09 µg/L — POTOSI WSC · 7,413 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 11.095 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.29 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 9.04 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.355 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.62 µg/L — HAMBY WSC · 2,082 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.07 µg/L — VIEW CAPS WSC · 2,928 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 5.884 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.05 µg/L — POTOSI WSC · 7,413 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.21 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.3 µg/L 7.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2 pCi/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.8385 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.2194 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.3110 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.1500 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Picloram | 0.1060 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0431 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0324 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0300 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0229 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0124 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0082 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0077 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF ABILENE · 130,501 people · 2023 | 4/4 | 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 Abilene
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF ABILENE | 130,501 |
| POTOSI WSC | 7,413 |
| VIEW CAPS WSC | 2,928 |
| HAMBY WSC | 2,082 |
Frequently asked questions about Abilene tap water
Is Abilene tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 39 contaminants in the water serving Abilene. 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 Abilene?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Abilene, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Abilene's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Abilene include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Chlorite, Barium. 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.