Copper Contamination

Copper in Texas Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

112

Cities Tested

112

Exceeds Limit

100%

% Exceeds Limit

2.953 mg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

900

Health Violations

Analysis

Copper in Texas: what the data shows

Texas has 112 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 2.953 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 112 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level

Texas

100%

112 of 112 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3953 of 3953 cities

City Map

Copper data across Texas

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by copper level in Texas

Highest Copper levels (mg/L)

All Cities

All Texas cities ranked by copper level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Eagle Pass	92.200 mg/L	Yes	45	D+
2	Morgans Point Resort	36.800 mg/L	Yes	10	B
3	Gallatin	6.250 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
4	Canyon Lake	3.100 mg/L	Yes	39	F
5	Cleveland	3.080 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
6	Round Rock	3.050 mg/L	Yes	17	F
7	Huntsville	2.999 mg/L	Yes	128	F
8	New Summerfield	2.990 mg/L	Yes	87	F
9	Katy	2.900 mg/L	Yes	46	F
10	Donna	2.860 mg/L	Yes	6	B
11	Trinity	2.700 mg/L	Yes	63	F
12	Stamford	2.690 mg/L	Yes	76	D
13	Willis	2.600 mg/L	Yes	12	F
14	Corrigan	2.530 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
15	Austin	2.410 mg/L	Yes	1288	F
16	Waco	2.400 mg/L	Yes	53	F
17	Big Sandy	2.400 mg/L	Yes	13	B-
18	Dickinson	2.350 mg/L	Yes	8	F
19	Jbsa Lackland	2.330 mg/L	Yes	4	B+
20	Detroit	2.280 mg/L	Yes	18	F
21	Wylie	2.270 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
22	Livingston	2.230 mg/L	Yes	398	F
23	Cypress	2.220 mg/L	Yes	624	F
24	Denison	2.200 mg/L	Yes	24	F
25	Rockwall	2.150 mg/L	Yes	4	D
26	Beckville	2.140 mg/L	Yes	18	F
27	Crandall	2.090 mg/L	Yes	11	C-
28	Spur	2.090 mg/L	Yes	6	C+
29	Sweeny	2.050 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
30	Killeen	2.000 mg/L	Yes	11	F
31	Lamesa	2.000 mg/L	Yes	151	F
32	Eastland	1.990 mg/L	Yes	44	D
33	White Settlement	1.980 mg/L	Yes	13	C+
34	The Woodlands	1.960 mg/L	Yes	19	F
35	Aspermont	1.960 mg/L	Yes	32	F
36	Gatesville	1.900 mg/L	Yes	85	F
37	Clayton	1.900 mg/L	Yes	29	F
38	Ben Wheeler	1.890 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
39	Midland	1.800 mg/L	Yes	231	F
40	San Marcos	1.800 mg/L	Yes	56	C-
41	Matagorda	1.800 mg/L	Yes	112	D
42	Goodrich	1.800 mg/L	Yes	32	F
43	Burkeville	1.790 mg/L	Yes	2	D+
44	Richwood	1.760 mg/L	Yes	0	B-
45	Los Fresnos	1.750 mg/L	Yes	29	D
46	Arp	1.750 mg/L	Yes	182	D
47	Surfside Beach	1.720 mg/L	Yes	101	F
48	Tenaha	1.710 mg/L	Yes	23	F
49	Spicewood	1.700 mg/L	Yes	0	C+
50	Freeport	1.690 mg/L	Yes	209	F
51	Brady	1.690 mg/L	Yes	746	D
52	Mercedes	1.660 mg/L	Yes	22	F
53	Pinehurst	1.659 mg/L	Yes	38	F
54	Huntington	1.640 mg/L	Yes	472	F
55	Mont Belvieu	1.630 mg/L	Yes	19	F
56	Cushing	1.620 mg/L	Yes	12	C-
57	Saratoga	1.610 mg/L	Yes	1	B
58	Temple	1.590 mg/L	Yes	31	C-
59	Dripping Springs	1.590 mg/L	Yes	45	F
60	Village Mills	1.580 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
61	Rowena	1.580 mg/L	Yes	124	F
62	Marquez	1.570 mg/L	Yes	3	D
63	Kingsville	1.540 mg/L	Yes	45	D+
64	Groesbeck	1.540 mg/L	Yes	131	F
65	Terrell	1.530 mg/L	Yes	21	F
66	Hitchcock	1.530 mg/L	Yes	16	F
67	Houston	1.520 mg/L	Yes	929	F
68	Lytle	1.520 mg/L	Yes	28	D
69	Cisco	1.520 mg/L	Yes	47	C
70	San Antonio	1.500 mg/L	Yes	25	F
71	Nacogdoches	1.500 mg/L	Yes	17	F
72	Athens	1.500 mg/L	Yes	95	F
73	Manor	1.500 mg/L	Yes	4	B
74	Silsbee	1.500 mg/L	Yes	22	F
75	Lavon	1.500 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
76	Hudson Oaks	1.500 mg/L	Yes	13	F
77	Zavalla	1.500 mg/L	Yes	83	F
78	Royse City	1.490 mg/L	Yes	6	C+
79	Hamlin	1.490 mg/L	Yes	29	C-
80	Sunrise Beach	1.490 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
81	Lufkin	1.480 mg/L	Yes	167	F
82	Elkhart	1.480 mg/L	Yes	8	F
83	Linden	1.480 mg/L	Yes	7	F
84	Jefferson	1.480 mg/L	Yes	23	F
85	Quanah	1.480 mg/L	Yes	9	D+
86	Honey Grove	1.470 mg/L	Yes	11	B
87	Ranger	1.460 mg/L	Yes	82	F
88	Victoria	1.450 mg/L	Yes	28	F
89	Haltom City	1.450 mg/L	Yes	2	B
90	Jasper	1.450 mg/L	Yes	77	F
91	Quinlan	1.450 mg/L	Yes	14	F
92	Childress	1.410 mg/L	Yes	13	D
93	Tyler	1.400 mg/L	Yes	53	F
94	New Braunfels	1.400 mg/L	Yes	15	D
95	Bastrop	1.400 mg/L	Yes	31	F
96	Woodville	1.400 mg/L	Yes	7	F
97	Farmersville	1.400 mg/L	Yes	7	F
98	Del Valle	1.400 mg/L	Yes	3	C-
99	Colmesneil	1.400 mg/L	Yes	25	F
100	Gilmer	1.390 mg/L	Yes	7	C
101	New Waverly	1.390 mg/L	Yes	44	F
102	Magnolia	1.380 mg/L	Yes	2	F
103	Elmo	1.373 mg/L	Yes	4	B-
104	Wichita Falls	1.370 mg/L	Yes	823	F
105	Oakwood	1.370 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
106	Lake Jackson	1.360 mg/L	Yes	6	D
107	Timpson	1.360 mg/L	Yes	60	F
108	Shoreacres	1.360 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
109	Bowie	1.359 mg/L	Yes	7	C
110	Scurry	1.350 mg/L	Yes	0	B
111	Gary	1.350 mg/L	Yes	90	F
112	Meadowlakes	1.350 mg/L	Yes	1	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about copper in Texas

Is copper in Texas drinking water safe?

112 cities in Texas exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 2.953 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.

What causes high copper levels in Texas tap water?

Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.

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