Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic in Texas Drinking Water

Ranked by arsenic violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

196

Cities Tested

196

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

26.3 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

900

Health Violations

Analysis

Arsenic in Texas: what the data shows

Texas has 196 cities with arsenic-related violations on record. Arsenic contamination is a federal MCL violation at levels above 10 µg/L (10 ppb). The state has 196 cities with at least one arsenic violation. Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through erosion of natural deposits, particularly in western states with arsenite-bearing geology. Industrial sources include mining runoff, glass manufacturing, and semiconductor production. Groundwater systems are significantly more likely to have arsenic issues than surface water systems. Long-term arsenic exposure above the MCL increases the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Reverse osmosis and specialized arsenic-removal media are the most effective point-of-use treatment options.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 µg/L EPA MCL

Texas

100%

196 of 196 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

5489 of 5489 cities

City Map

Arsenic data across Texas

Each dot is a city with arsenic violation data. Cities with at least one arsenic-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by arsenic level in Texas

Highest Arsenic levels (violations)

All Cities

All Texas cities ranked by arsenic level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Lubbock	424 violations	Yes	1231	F
2	Cypress	262 violations	Yes	624	F
3	Wolfforth	216 violations	Yes	551	D
4	Houston	206 violations	Yes	929	F
5	Marlin	203 violations	Yes	288	D
6	Shallowater	185 violations	Yes	374	D
7	Axtell	180 violations	Yes	193	D+
8	Riesel	167 violations	Yes	172	D
9	Benavides	155 violations	Yes	160	D
10	El Paso	145 violations	Yes	192	F
11	Livingston	138 violations	Yes	398	F
12	Austin	127 violations	Yes	1288	F
13	Seagraves	109 violations	Yes	262	D
14	Seminole	107 violations	Yes	123	D+
15	Marfa	102 violations	Yes	78	D
16	Pointblank	98 violations	Yes	99	D
17	Hebbronville	97 violations	Yes	104	D
18	Andrews	82 violations	Yes	157	D
19	Leroy	82 violations	Yes	80	D+
20	Tahoka	79 violations	Yes	303	F
21	New Home	79 violations	Yes	169	D
22	Plains	78 violations	Yes	137	D+
23	Prairie Hill	77 violations	Yes	79	D+
24	Midland	76 violations	Yes	231	F
25	Waco	73 violations	Yes	53	F
26	Ellinger	73 violations	Yes	73	D+
27	Surfside Beach	72 violations	Yes	101	F
28	Placedo	70 violations	Yes	71	D
29	League City	63 violations	Yes	67	F
30	Huntsville	55 violations	Yes	128	F
31	Morton	55 violations	Yes	110	D
32	Levelland	52 violations	Yes	168	F
33	Freer	51 violations	Yes	50	C-
34	Lamesa	44 violations	Yes	151	F
35	Mount Calm	43 violations	Yes	51	D
36	Collinsville	42 violations	Yes	27	D
37	Tornillo	42 violations	Yes	46	B+
38	Sargent	42 violations	Yes	76	F
39	Angleton	40 violations	Yes	47	F
40	Vidor	39 violations	Yes	250	F
41	Woodsboro	38 violations	Yes	41	C
42	Crane	36 violations	Yes	37	B
43	Meadow	35 violations	Yes	97	D
44	Alvin	34 violations	Yes	37	F
45	Liverpool	34 violations	Yes	38	C+
46	Flatonia	33 violations	Yes	34	C+
47	Victoria	29 violations	Yes	28	F
48	Alice	28 violations	Yes	103	F
49	Fort Hancock	25 violations	Yes	31	B
50	Tivoli	24 violations	Yes	27	B
51	Idalou	23 violations	Yes	71	D+
52	Stanton	22 violations	Yes	90	D
53	Goodrich	19 violations	Yes	32	F
54	Spring	18 violations	Yes	36	F
55	Hempstead	18 violations	Yes	18	B-
56	Anthony	18 violations	Yes	19	D
57	Conroe	17 violations	Yes	54	F
58	Progreso	16 violations	Yes	52	D+
59	Kenedy	13 violations	Yes	14	C+
60	Pearland	12 violations	Yes	14	F
61	Bay City	12 violations	Yes	14	F
62	Dallas	10 violations	Yes	102	F
63	Amarillo	10 violations	Yes	26	F
64	Danbury	10 violations	Yes	11	B
65	Baytown	9 violations	Yes	6	F
66	Weatherford	9 violations	Yes	140	F
67	Mont Belvieu	9 violations	Yes	19	F
68	Denver City	8 violations	Yes	11	B+
69	Fort Worth	7 violations	Yes	25	F
70	La Grange	7 violations	Yes	53	D
71	Huntington	7 violations	Yes	472	F
72	Bloomington	7 violations	Yes	14	D
73	Granbury	6 violations	Yes	28	F
74	Texarkana	5 violations	Yes	17	F
75	Athens	5 violations	Yes	95	F
76	Pinehurst	5 violations	Yes	38	F
77	Dodge	5 violations	Yes	7	B
78	Hunt	5 violations	Yes	63	D
79	Newark	5 violations	Yes	3	D
80	Laredo	4 violations	Yes	111	F
81	The Woodlands	4 violations	Yes	19	F
82	Canyon Lake	4 violations	Yes	39	F
83	Del Rio	4 violations	Yes	117	F
84	Plainview	4 violations	Yes	25	F
85	Alvarado	4 violations	Yes	5	D+
86	Linden	4 violations	Yes	7	F
87	San Diego	4 violations	Yes	6	D+
88	Mart	4 violations	Yes	40	C
89	Runge	4 violations	Yes	6	C+
90	Arlington	3 violations	Yes	5	D+
91	Tyler	3 violations	Yes	53	F
92	Leander	3 violations	Yes	5	F
93	Richmond	3 violations	Yes	3	F
94	Lake Jackson	3 violations	Yes	6	D
95	Waller	3 violations	Yes	52	F
96	Splendora	3 violations	Yes	4	D
97	Karnes City	3 violations	Yes	23	C-
98	Bellmead	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
99	Joaquin	3 violations	Yes	48	F
100	Anderson	3 violations	Yes	12	D
101	Grand Prairie	2 violations	Yes	10	F
102	Aubrey	2 violations	Yes	3	F
103	Missouri City	2 violations	Yes	6	F
104	Stephenville	2 violations	Yes	39	F
105	New Waverly	2 violations	Yes	44	F
106	Commerce	2 violations	Yes	32	D
107	Keene	2 violations	Yes	22	F
108	Carrizo Springs	2 violations	Yes	5	F
109	Grand Saline	2 violations	Yes	5	D
110	Moody	2 violations	Yes	6	C-
111	Winona	2 violations	Yes	23	D
112	Elmendorf	2 violations	Yes	5	F
113	Dublin	2 violations	Yes	37	F
114	La Villa	2 violations	Yes	43	C+
115	Bailey	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
116	Snook	2 violations	Yes	2	D
117	Naples	2 violations	Yes	1	D
118	Wolfe City	2 violations	Yes	24	C+
119	New Deal	2 violations	Yes	4	B
120	San Antonio	1 violations	Yes	25	F
121	Denton	1 violations	Yes	3	F
122	San Marcos	1 violations	Yes	56	C-
123	San Angelo	1 violations	Yes	40	F
124	Bastrop	1 violations	Yes	31	F
125	Longview	1 violations	Yes	20	F
126	Nacogdoches	1 violations	Yes	17	F
127	Eagle Pass	1 violations	Yes	45	D+
128	Terrell	1 violations	Yes	21	F
129	Palestine	1 violations	Yes	15	C
130	Navasota	1 violations	Yes	6	F
131	Henderson	1 violations	Yes	57	F
132	Wellborn	1 violations	Yes	11	A-
133	Benbrook	1 violations	Yes	0	B
134	Giddings	1 violations	Yes	7	F
135	Willis	1 violations	Yes	12	F
136	Robstown	1 violations	Yes	31	F
137	Glenn Heights	1 violations	Yes	3	C-
138	Silsbee	1 violations	Yes	22	F
139	Addison	1 violations	Yes	3	C
140	Hereford	1 violations	Yes	13	F
141	Crosby	1 violations	Yes	12	F
142	Dayton	1 violations	Yes	4	D
143	Beeville	1 violations	Yes	46	F
144	El Campo	1 violations	Yes	19	F
145	Dripping Springs	1 violations	Yes	45	F
146	Winnsboro	1 violations	Yes	7	B
147	Whitesboro	1 violations	Yes	0	B
148	Rusk	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
149	Quinlan	1 violations	Yes	14	F
150	West Lake Hills	1 violations	Yes	1	B
151	La Grulla	1 violations	Yes	15	D
152	Manvel	1 violations	Yes	2	D
153	Jonestown	1 violations	Yes	8	F
154	Crystal City	1 violations	Yes	0	C+
155	Kennedale	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
156	Castroville	1 violations	Yes	3	C+
157	Santa Fe	1 violations	Yes	25	F
158	Glen Rose	1 violations	Yes	36	D
159	Diana	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
160	Decatur	1 violations	Yes	14	D
161	Columbus	1 violations	Yes	52	F
162	Alpine	1 violations	Yes	5	D
163	Sinton	1 violations	Yes	7	C-
164	Fritch	1 violations	Yes	3	C
165	Brady	1 violations	Yes	746	D
166	Bandera	1 violations	Yes	11	C
167	China Spring	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
168	Chandler	1 violations	Yes	3	D
169	Smithville	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
170	Como	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
171	Deweyville	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
172	Comfort	1 violations	Yes	140	D
173	Falcon Heights	1 violations	Yes	6	D+
174	Haskell	1 violations	Yes	84	F
175	Blanco	1 violations	Yes	45	D
176	Gary	1 violations	Yes	90	F
177	Ferris	1 violations	Yes	7	B
178	Brazoria	1 violations	Yes	2	C-
179	Vinton	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
180	Runaway Bay	1 violations	Yes	28	D
181	Somerville	1 violations	Yes	17	C-
182	Columbus	1 violations	Yes	46	C+
183	Johnson City	1 violations	Yes	1	D
184	Concan	1 violations	Yes	4	C+
185	Clayton	1 violations	Yes	29	F
186	Port O Connor	1 violations	Yes	22	D
187	Asherton	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
188	Davenport	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
189	Daisetta	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
190	Florence	1 violations	Yes	4	C
191	Lakewood Village	1 violations	Yes	8	C-
192	Miles	1 violations	Yes	64	B
193	Saint Jo	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
194	Boling	1 violations	Yes	0	B
195	Mertzon	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
196	Lawn	1 violations	Yes	44	C

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about arsenic in Texas

Is arsenic in Texas tap water a concern?

Yes — 196 cities in Texas have arsenic-related violations on record. The EPA MCL for arsenic is 10 µg/L. Even at levels below the MCL, long-term arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How can I remove arsenic from my drinking water in Texas?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing arsenic, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Specialized arsenic-removal media (such as iron-based adsorption filters) are also highly effective. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters do NOT effectively remove arsenic. If your water comes from a private well, have it tested for arsenic.

Where does arsenic in Texas water come from?

Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through natural erosion of arsenic-bearing rock formations. It is most common in groundwater systems in the western United States, parts of the Midwest, and New England. Industrial sources include mining, smelting, and agricultural pesticide residues. Groundwater sources are far more likely to contain arsenic than surface water.

More contaminants