What was found in Gainesville'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 | 155 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 724 µg/L — MOSS LAKE WSC · 219 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 224.3 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 502.5 µg/L — MOSS LAKE WSC · 219 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 140 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 149 µg/L — WALNUT BEND ISD · 162 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 134 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 76.42 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 72.875 µg/L 121% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 35.7 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.25 µg/L — WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 60.535 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 42.985 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 42.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5.94 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.9175 µg/L — WALNUT BEND ISD · 162 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 15.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 28.3 µg/L — WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2023 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20.17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 20.1 µg/L 134% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 18.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.9 µg/L — WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 10.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 7.13 µg/L 7.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 5.6655 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.6 pCi/L 72% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: MOSS LAKE WSC · 219 people · 2014 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.6 pCi/L 24% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: MOSS LAKE WSC · 219 people · 2014 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.969 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.288 µg/L — WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.6 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.9600 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7000 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.5700 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: OAK RIDGE WATER SYSTEM · 468 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT · 7,689 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF GAINESVILLE · 18,107 people · 2024 | 5/5 | 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 Gainesville
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF GAINESVILLE | 18,107 |
| WOODBINE SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT | 7,689 |
| OAK RIDGE WATER SYSTEM | 468 |
| MOSS LAKE WSC | 219 |
| WALNUT BEND ISD | 162 |
Frequently asked questions about Gainesville tap water
Is Gainesville tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 34 contaminants in the water serving Gainesville. 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 Gainesville?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Gainesville, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Gainesville's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Gainesville include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, 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.