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Tap water quality report

Rice University

EPA monitoring tested this supplier for 108 contaminants and detected 28. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — the level and EPA source for each is below.

108
contaminants tested
28
detected
8,415
people served
17
health-based violations
Texas rankingsLead in TexasPFAS in Texas
Water source
SWP
Ownership
Private
Counties served
Harris

Compliance record

Formal violations the EPA has on file for this supplier. A health-based violation means a contaminant limit or a required treatment was breached; the rest are monitoring or reporting failures — still violations, but not a measured health risk.

17
health-based violations
51
violations on file
0
still open
ViolationTypeStatusPeriod
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-04-01
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-04-01
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-04-01
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-04-01
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-03-31
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-03-31
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-03-31
TT Health-based Resolved 2026-03-31
MCL Health-based Resolved 2025-11-01 → 2025-11-30
MCL Health-based Resolved 2025-11-01 → 2025-11-30

PFAS detected

PFAS are industrial “forever chemicals”. These are the EPA's latest nationwide test results (2023–2025).
ContaminantMaxDetection ratePeriod
Pfba 0.0280 µg/L 3/8 2024
Pfhxa 0.0064 µg/L 3/8 2024
Pfpea 0.0069 µg/L 3/8 2024
PFBS 0.0037 µg/L 2/8 2024
PFHXS 0.0035 µg/L 2/8 2024

Other contaminants detected

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 this system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Where a single sample came in higher than that percentile, it is noted under the bar. Formal violations are listed separately.
ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitDetection rateSourcePeriod
Copper
733 µg/L 56%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
worst single sample: 1900 µg/L
79/82 SYR4 2013–2018
Lead
8.975 µg/L 60%
of the EPA limit 15 µg/L
worst single sample: 14 µg/L
54/82 SYR4 2013–2018
TTHM
41.55 µg/L 52%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
worst single sample: 49.4 µg/L
51/62 SYR4 2012–2019
Dibromochloromethane
6.475 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 6.9 µg/L
50/67 SYR4 2012–2019
Nitrate
830 µg/L 8.3%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
worst single sample: 840 µg/L
50/64 SYR4 2012–2019
Bromodichloromethane
11.07 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 14.6 µg/L
42/67 SYR4 2012–2019
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
31.65 µg/L 53%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
worst single sample: 43.3 µg/L
42/62 SYR4 2012–2019
Chloroform
33.49 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 38.5 µg/L
39/67 SYR4 2012–2019
Dichloroacetic Acid
24.485 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 32.9 µg/L
34/62 SYR4 2012–2019
Dibromoacetic Acid
2.6 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 3.2 µg/L
28/62 SYR4 2012–2019
Trichloroacetic Acid
9.525 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 10.4 µg/L
26/62 SYR4 2012–2019
Bromoform
6.18 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 9.4 µg/L
24/67 SYR4 2012–2019
Lead
0.0024 mg/L 16%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
 19/19 LCR 2026
Nitrate-Nitrite
792 µg/L 7.9%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
worst single sample: 810 µg/L
13/15 SYR4 2012–2015
Nitrite
89 µg/L 8.9%
of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L
worst single sample: 110 µg/L
8/15 SYR4 2012–2015
Atrazine
0.2740 µg/L 9.1%
of the EPA limit 3 µg/L
worst single sample: 0.2900 µg/L
5/10 SYR4 2012–2019
Simazine
0.1560 µg/L 3.9%
of the EPA limit 4 µg/L
worst single sample: 0.1600 µg/L
5/10 SYR4 2012–2019
Lithium
22.8 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 5/8 UCMR-5 2023
Barium
170.485 µg/L 8.5%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
worst single sample: 177 µg/L
2/2 SYR4 2014–2017
Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
1.266 µg/L 21%
of the EPA limit 6 µg/L
worst single sample: 1.3 µg/L
2/10 SYR4 2012–2019
Fluoride
537 µg/L 13%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
worst single sample: 550 µg/L
2/2 SYR4 2014–2017
Arsenic
2.5 µg/L 25%
of the EPA limit 10 µg/L
 1/2 SYR4 2014–2017
Monochloroacetic Acid
3.3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/62 SYR4 2012–2019
80 contaminants tested, none detected
1,1,1-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane1,1-Dichloroethylene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE1,2-Dichloroethane1,2-Dichloropropane11Cl-PF3OUdS2,4,5-TP2,4-D4:2 Fts6:2 Fts8:2 Fts9Cl-PF3ONSAdonaAntimony, TotalAsbestosBhc-GammaBenzeneBenzo(A)PyreneBeryllium, TotalChlorobenzeneCyanideCadmiumCarbofuranCarbon TetrachlorideChlordaneChromiumCombined UraniumDichloromethaneDalaponDi(2-ethylhexyl) AdipateDinosebEthylene DibromideEndrinEthylbenzeneGross Alpha, Excl. Radon And UGross Beta Particle ActivityHexachlorobenzeneHfpo-DaHeptachlorHeptachlor EpoxideHexachlorocyclopentadieneLassoMercuryMethoxychlorMonobromoacetic AcidNetfosaaNfdhaNmefosaaOxamylPfdaPfdoaPfeesaPfhpaPfhpsPfmbaPfmpaPFNAPFOAPFOSPfpesPftaPftrdaPfunaPentachlorophenolPicloramSeleniumStyreneTetrachloroethyleneThallium, TotalTolueneToxapheneTrichloroethyleneVinyl ChlorideXylenes, Totalcis-1,2-DichloroethyleneO-DichlorobenzeneP-Dichlorobenzenetrans-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Utility contact

Contact
DESROCHES, REGINALD
Phone
713-348-5050
Email
president@rice.edu

Frequently asked questions about Rice University

Is Rice University tap water safe to drink?

EPA monitoring detected 28 contaminants in Rice University's water. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most levels are within federal limits. See each level and source above, and the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for its official compliance status.

What contaminants were detected in Rice University's water?

EPA monitoring detected Copper, Lead, TTHM, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, and others. The full list with the level and data source for each is above.

How many people does Rice University serve?

Rice University reports serving 8,415 people in Texas, per its EPA record.

Has Rice University had any water quality violations?

The EPA has 51 violations on file for Rice University, of which 17 are health-based (a contaminant limit or required treatment was breached) and 0 remain open. The rest are monitoring or reporting failures.

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.