WaterVerge

Is Crosbyton, TX Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded B-, with 15 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: TX0540001
Overall Score
74 / 100
Violations
15 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased surface water
#513 of 1067 in Texas Top 63% nationally
Local Government
High data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
B-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
74/100
waterverge.com
B- 74/100

Crosbyton, TX — Water Quality Report

Crosbyton's drinking water received a grade of B- (74 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,741 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 3.8 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 28 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 15 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Crosbyton's water

Crosbyton ranks #513 out of 1067 cities in Texas for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state.

The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection.

As a small community water system, Crosbyton may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 6 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
74 out of 100 Grade B-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
32/45
C
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
18/20
A
Lead at 3.8 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
3/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
4/5
B
Water source: Purchased surface water.
Water Safety

Is Crosbyton, TX water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Crosbyton's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B- (74/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,741 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

15
Active Violations
3.8 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
1 event
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Crosbyton

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Crosbyton's water quality assessment. Grade: B- (74/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Public Notice.

Disaster
HURRICANE RITA

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-1606). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Crosbyton's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 3.8 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Crosbyton's water system has 28 total violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 15 remain unresolved. 6 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MRTTRPTOtherMONMCL
Most recent violations:
Dec 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Oct 2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Oct 2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Oct 2022 Public Notice Open
Dec 2021 Public Notice Open

Flood & environmental risk

Crosby County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

HURRICANE RITA
Hurricane FEMA DR-1606

Where does Crosbyton's water come from?

Crosbyton's drinking water comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,741 people. Surface water sources are more susceptible to contamination from runoff, industrial discharge, and algal blooms, requiring extensive treatment.

What Crosbyton residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Crosbyton's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Flush your taps

Run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking, especially in the morning. Lead and copper leach from household plumbing when water sits in pipes.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
3.8 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 25% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

28
Total violations
2
Health-based
15
Active / unresolved
Dec 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

28 Total
15 Active
2 Health-based
13 Resolved
Violations by category
Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule
7
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
6
Lead and Copper Rule
4
Revised Total Coliform Rule
3
Total Coliform Rule
3
Dec 2024 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Oct 2022 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Dec 2021 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2020 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Mar 2020 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jan 2020 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jul 2018 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Sep 2017 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2016 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Feb 2016 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Oct 2015 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Aug 2013 Active
Groundwater Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Apr 2021 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 2021
Oct 2018 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2018
Jul 2018 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2018
Jan 2018 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2018
Oct 2017 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2017
Showing 20 of 28 violations
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Crosby County is currently in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

14
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
18.4%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
14
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

1
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Crosby County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE RITA
Hurricane FEMA #1606

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 3.8 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has increased by 2.7 ppb from 1993 (1.1 ppb) to 2024 (3.8 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Surface Water
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,741
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Crosbyton's water comes from

Purchased Surface Water

Crosbyton's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,741 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Crosbyton

System Name PWSID Population Source
CITY OF CROSBYTON TX0540001 1,741 SWP
Regional Comparison

How Crosbyton compares

Full Texas rankings →

Crosbyton's score of 74/100 is above the average of 46/100 among major Texas cities. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities.

Crosbyton (this city)
74
Houston
27.8
Austin
31.2
Dallas
36.2
Fort Worth
34.5
Texas avg
46
City Profile

About Crosbyton, TX

Wikipedia →

Crosbyton is a city in and the county seat of Crosby County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,492 at the 2020 census. Crosbyton is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Economic Profile
$47,083
Median Income
$56,266
Median Home Value
$513/mo
Median Rent
7.5%
Unemployment
Community
39.1
Median Age
303
People / sq mi
11.6%
College Educated
62.3%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Crosbyton, TX tap water safe to drink?

Crosbyton's water quality earned a grade of B- (74/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #513 out of 1067 cities tested in Texas.

What contaminants are in Crosbyton's water?

Lead was measured at 3.8 ppb (90th percentile). 28 violations are on record.

How is Crosbyton's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Crosbyton?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Crosbyton's water come from?

Crosbyton's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,741 residents.

What health violations has Crosbyton's water system had?

Crosbyton has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in December 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 15 violations remain unresolved.

How does Crosbyton's water compare to other cities?

Crosbyton ranks #513 out of 1067 cities in Texas (better than 52% of state cities) and #9960 out of 15744 cities nationally (37th percentile). The grade of B- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Crosbyton's small water system affect quality?

Crosbyton's system serves approximately 1,741 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 28 violations on record.