What was found in El Paso's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2870 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2870 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1600 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 905 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 558 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 180 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 131 µg/L 164% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 115.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Nitrite | 92.6 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 84 µg/L 560% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 61.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 49.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 44.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 43.3 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 31.7 µg/L 106% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 29.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 29 µg/L 290% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 18.5 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 16.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 15.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 10 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 8.7 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 7.34 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.7 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6 pCi/L 40% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 5.8 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.7 pCi/L 74% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1.7 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.38 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0410 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0085 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0085 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0017 mg/L 12% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 8/8 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving El Paso
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EL PASO WATER UTILITIES | 747,168 |
| EAST MONTANA WATER SYSTEM | 11,480 |
| HACIENDAS DEL NORTE WATER IMPROVEMENT DI | 1,074 |
| RIVER VIEW ESTATES | 224 |
| GREEN ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK | 141 |
| SAN ISIDRO MHP | 96 |
| VALLEY ACRES MHP WATER SYSTEM | 54 |
| QUAIL RUN MOBILE HOME PARK | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about El Paso tap water
Is El Paso tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 40 contaminants in the water serving El Paso. 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 El Paso?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for El Paso, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in El Paso's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in El Paso include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Chlorite. The full list, with the highest level found 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.