What was found in Sugar Land'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 2990 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 9/16 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 2560 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2230 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 6/16 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1710 µg/L 132% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 885 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 236 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 9/16 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 180 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 100 µg/L 667% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 94.3 µg/L 118% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 66.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 32.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 26.3 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 22.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 20.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 20 pCi/L 133% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 pCi/L | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 12.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 10.9 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 10 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 9.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 8.9 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 8.4 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 5/16 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 7.9 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.6 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 6/16 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.15 pCi/L 83% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 8/16 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.4 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.4 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 1.2 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Simazine | 0.8100 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.7600 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.6720 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.3580 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.1000 mg/L 667% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 15/16 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0748 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0129 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Adona | 0.0034 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
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 single worst sample on
record — 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 Sugar Land
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF SUGAR LAND | 90,909 |
| CITY OF SUGAR LAND - NEW TERRITORY | 15,546 |
| CITY OF SUGAR LAND - GREATWOOD | 12,368 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 128 | 10,974 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 129 | 4,713 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 149 | 4,638 |
| CITY OF SUGAR LAND RIVER PARK | 4,278 |
| KINGDOM HEIGHTS WATER SYSTEM | 2,934 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 140 RIVERS EDGE | 2,547 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 115 RIVERSTONE | 1,527 |
| ROYAL LAKES ESTATES | 1,002 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 253 | 420 |
| SIENNA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT | 300 |
| FORT BEND COUNTY MUD 251 | 276 |
| RICHMOND COMMUNITY ESTATES | 90 |
| SIENNA REGIONAL MUD | 0 |
Frequently asked questions about Sugar Land tap water
Is Sugar Land tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 42 contaminants in the water serving Sugar Land. 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 Sugar Land?
16 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Sugar Land, Texas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Sugar Land's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Sugar Land include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, 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.