HAA5 Contamination

HAA5 in Texas Drinking Water

Ranked by average HAA5 concentration (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

298

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

15.7 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

900

Health Violations

Analysis

HAA5 in Texas: what the data shows

Texas has 298 cities with HAA5 monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Haloacetic acids (HAA5) form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. The state average is 15.7 µg/L — better than the 15.5 µg/L national average. 4 cities exceed the EPA MCL of 60 µg/L. HAA5 is a group of five chlorinated and brominated acetic acids. Long-term exposure above the MCL is associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive outcomes. The EPA classifies total HAA5 as a probable human carcinogen at elevated concentrations. Activated carbon filtration (especially granular or block carbon) is effective at reducing HAA5. Running water through a refrigerator filter or letting it sit in an open pitcher for 30 minutes also helps, as some HAA5 species are volatile. Boiling does not remove disinfection byproducts and may concentrate them.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 60 µg/L EPA MCL

Texas

4 of 298 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

23 of 4420 cities

City Map

HAA5 data across Texas

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 HAA5 testing data. Cities where average HAA5 exceeded the 60 µg/L EPA MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by haa5 level in Texas

Highest HAA5 levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Texas cities ranked by haa5 level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Bridgeport	134.5 µg/L	Yes	89	D
2	Alice	95.0 µg/L	Yes	103	F
3	San Angelo	84.5 µg/L	Yes	40	F
4	Crystal Beach	62.2 µg/L	Yes	15	A-
5	Groves	58.1 µg/L	No	5	B+
6	Mount Vernon	51.0 µg/L	No	25	B+
7	Progreso	49.5 µg/L	No	52	D+
8	Robstown	49.2 µg/L	No	31	F
9	Mabank	48.7 µg/L	No	66	D
10	Waxahachie	47.3 µg/L	No	70	D+
11	Marshall	44.4 µg/L	No	46	F
12	Brenham	44.2 µg/L	No	20	F
13	Kerrville	43.5 µg/L	No	131	F
14	Paris	43.3 µg/L	No	15	B+
15	Cleburne	42.6 µg/L	No	5	C
16	Quitman	42.0 µg/L	No	2	A
17	Rogers	38.9 µg/L	No	6	B+
18	Seabrook	38.3 µg/L	No	0	B+
19	Cypress	35.5 µg/L	No	624	F
20	League City	34.2 µg/L	No	67	F
21	Texarkana	34.2 µg/L	No	17	F
22	Livingston	34.1 µg/L	No	398	F
23	Friendswood	33.9 µg/L	No	0	B+
24	Port Lavaca	33.6 µg/L	No	47	F
25	Azle	33.5 µg/L	No	30	F
26	Pasadena	33.2 µg/L	No	0	B-
27	Deer Park	32.1 µg/L	No	2	B+
28	Beeville	30.9 µg/L	No	46	F
29	Greenville	29.9 µg/L	No	8	C
30	Webster	29.5 µg/L	No	1	A
31	Port Neches	29.2 µg/L	No	6	B+
32	South Houston	29.1 µg/L	No	4	A-
33	Dublin	27.7 µg/L	No	37	F
34	Allen	27.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
35	Sheppard Afb	27.1 µg/L	No	3	A-
36	Rowlett	27.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
37	San Juan	26.7 µg/L	No	4	B+
38	Kempner	26.6 µg/L	No	19	B-
39	Weatherford	26.5 µg/L	No	140	F
40	Jacksonville	26.5 µg/L	No	62	D
41	Whitehouse	26.5 µg/L	No	12	B+
42	Baytown	26.4 µg/L	No	6	F
43	Rockport	25.8 µg/L	No	20	B-
44	Scotland	25.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
45	Galena Park	25.3 µg/L	No	4	B-
46	Vidor	24.9 µg/L	No	250	F
47	Palestine	24.8 µg/L	No	15	C
48	Springtown	24.5 µg/L	No	71	D
49	Lewisville	24.3 µg/L	No	1	C+
50	The Colony	24.0 µg/L	No	2	A-
51	Sulphur Springs	24.0 µg/L	No	18	C
52	Corsicana	23.5 µg/L	No	30	F
53	Lufkin	23.3 µg/L	No	167	F
54	Beaumont	22.8 µg/L	No	42	F
55	Laredo	22.6 µg/L	No	111	F
56	Prosper	22.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
57	Richardson	22.5 µg/L	No	30	F
58	Tyler	22.4 µg/L	No	53	F
59	Red Oak	22.3 µg/L	No	10	B+
60	Mount Pleasant	22.3 µg/L	No	2	A-
61	Clute	22.3 µg/L	No	1	B
62	Tool	21.7 µg/L	No	6	A-
63	Port Isabel	21.6 µg/L	No	24	B+
64	Rio Grande	21.6 µg/L	No	6	B
65	Odessa	21.4 µg/L	No	225	F
66	Cedar Park	21.4 µg/L	No	8	B-
67	Wellborn	21.4 µg/L	No	11	A-
68	Midlothian	21.3 µg/L	No	12	B
69	Donna	21.1 µg/L	No	6	B
70	Portland	21.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
71	Fort Hood	21.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
72	La Porte	20.9 µg/L	No	0	B+
73	Texas City	20.8 µg/L	No	4	B
74	Harker Heights	20.8 µg/L	No	19	B-
75	Nederland	20.7 µg/L	No	28	D
76	Lakeway	20.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
77	Lavon	20.6 µg/L	No	1	B+
78	Bellaire	20.4 µg/L	No	1	A-
79	Forney	20.3 µg/L	No	10	B-
80	Mckinney	20.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
81	San Benito	20.3 µg/L	No	16	B+
82	Port Aransas	20.1 µg/L	No	6	B+
83	Abilene	20.1 µg/L	No	46	F
84	Rio Hondo	20.1 µg/L	No	70	F
85	Irving	20.0 µg/L	No	9	C
86	New Boston	20.0 µg/L	No	66	C+
87	Snyder	19.9 µg/L	No	12	B-
88	Winnsboro	19.7 µg/L	No	7	B
89	Mart	19.5 µg/L	No	40	C
90	Hillsboro	19.5 µg/L	No	25	F
91	Big Spring	19.5 µg/L	No	48	F
92	Corpus Christi	19.4 µg/L	No	13	B
93	Coppell	19.4 µg/L	No	0	A-
94	Mercedes	19.4 µg/L	No	22	F
95	Plano	19.3 µg/L	No	5	A-
96	Garland	19.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
97	Jacinto City	18.9 µg/L	No	1	B+
98	Athens	18.9 µg/L	No	95	F
99	Port Arthur	18.9 µg/L	No	8	B+
100	Murphy	18.6 µg/L	No	0	B+
101	Coupland	18.6 µg/L	No	6	C
102	Henderson	18.5 µg/L	No	57	F
103	Houston	18.4 µg/L	No	929	F
104	Boerne	18.3 µg/L	No	24	F
105	Mineral Wells	18.3 µg/L	No	7	C-
106	Temple	18.2 µg/L	No	31	C-
107	Bonham	18.2 µg/L	No	30	B+
108	Lockhart	18.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
109	Mission	17.8 µg/L	No	23	C-
110	Killeen	17.8 µg/L	No	11	F
111	Wylie	17.7 µg/L	No	2	B-
112	Colleyville	17.5 µg/L	No	1	B+
113	Rockwall	17.4 µg/L	No	4	D
114	Fate	17.4 µg/L	No	0	B
115	Little Elm	17.3 µg/L	No	2	C
116	Sachse	17.2 µg/L	No	1	A
117	Grapevine	17.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
118	Brownwood	16.9 µg/L	No	12	A-
119	Frisco	16.8 µg/L	No	3	B
120	Georgetown	16.7 µg/L	No	3	F
121	Carrollton	16.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
122	Pflugerville	16.5 µg/L	No	19	C+
123	Denison	16.4 µg/L	No	24	F
124	Zapata	16.4 µg/L	No	75	D
125	Terrell	16.3 µg/L	No	21	F
126	Royse City	16.3 µg/L	No	6	C+
127	Mesquite	16.3 µg/L	No	0	B+
128	Mansfield	16.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
129	Copperas Cove	16.1 µg/L	No	1	B+
130	Pearland	16.0 µg/L	No	14	F
131	Brownsville	16.0 µg/L	No	5	C+
132	Benbrook	15.8 µg/L	No	0	B
133	Wichita Falls	15.6 µg/L	No	823	F
134	Roma	15.5 µg/L	No	40	F
135	Cibolo	15.5 µg/L	No	7	B+
136	Hallsville	15.3 µg/L	No	20	B
137	North Richland Hills	15.3 µg/L	No	1	B+
138	Edinburg	14.9 µg/L	No	12	C-
139	Taylor	14.9 µg/L	No	6	A-
140	Lincoln	14.8 µg/L	No	10	B-
141	Midland	14.8 µg/L	No	231	F
142	Pharr	14.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
143	Eagle Pass	14.6 µg/L	No	45	D+
144	Anna	14.6 µg/L	No	3	C
145	Gainesville	14.4 µg/L	No	13	D
146	Galveston	14.3 µg/L	No	2	B+
147	Richwood	14.3 µg/L	No	0	B-
148	Montalba	14.2 µg/L	No	3	C+
149	Freeport	14.1 µg/L	No	209	F
150	Raymondville	14.0 µg/L	No	38	F
151	Harlingen	14.0 µg/L	No	1	C
152	Joshua	13.4 µg/L	No	2	C-
153	Victoria	13.3 µg/L	No	28	F
154	Waco	13.3 µg/L	No	53	F
155	Dickinson	12.7 µg/L	No	8	F
156	Round Rock	12.7 µg/L	No	17	F
157	Bedford	12.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
158	New Braunfels	12.4 µg/L	No	15	D
159	Angleton	12.4 µg/L	No	47	F
160	Weslaco	12.3 µg/L	No	2	C+
161	Huntsville	12.3 µg/L	No	128	F
162	Ennis	12.3 µg/L	No	2	A-
163	Leander	12.2 µg/L	No	5	F
164	The Woodlands	12.0 µg/L	No	19	F
165	La Marque	11.8 µg/L	No	3	B
166	Belton	11.5 µg/L	No	22	F
167	Slaton	11.5 µg/L	No	2	A-
168	Plainview	11.4 µg/L	No	25	F
169	Grand Prairie	11.3 µg/L	No	10	F
170	Alamo	11.2 µg/L	No	7	B+
171	Hutto	11.1 µg/L	No	17	B
172	Austin	11.1 µg/L	No	1288	F
173	Mcallen	11.1 µg/L	No	0	A
174	Niederwald	11.0 µg/L	No	6	B-
175	Richmond	10.8 µg/L	No	3	F
176	Sherman	10.8 µg/L	No	2	B+
177	Canyon Lake	10.8 µg/L	No	39	F
178	Clint	10.6 µg/L	No	2	B
179	Kyle	10.4 µg/L	No	5	A-
180	Porter	10.3 µg/L	No	58	F
181	Nacogdoches	10.3 µg/L	No	17	F
182	Southlake	10.3 µg/L	No	3	B
183	Rusk	10.2 µg/L	No	2	C+
184	Longview	10.1 µg/L	No	20	F
185	Lake Jackson	9.8 µg/L	No	6	D
186	West University Place	9.8 µg/L	No	2	B+
187	Aubrey	9.7 µg/L	No	3	F
188	Bastrop	9.6 µg/L	No	31	F
189	Fabens	9.5 µg/L	No	0	A-
190	Glenn Heights	9.4 µg/L	No	3	C-
191	Euless	9.3 µg/L	No	1	A-
192	Pittsburg	9.2 µg/L	No	5	F
193	Farmers Branch	8.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
194	Cedar Hill	8.4 µg/L	No	4	A-
195	Pampa	8.4 µg/L	No	7	B
196	El Paso	8.3 µg/L	No	192	F
197	San Marcos	8.3 µg/L	No	56	C-
198	Kilgore	8.2 µg/L	No	26	F
199	White Settlement	8.2 µg/L	No	13	C+
200	Levelland	8.2 µg/L	No	168	F
201	Conroe	8.2 µg/L	No	54	F
202	Haltom City	8.1 µg/L	No	2	B
203	Burleson	7.7 µg/L	No	9	B+
204	Seguin	7.7 µg/L	No	42	F
205	La Grange	7.7 µg/L	No	53	D
206	Corinth	7.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
207	Dallas	7.5 µg/L	No	102	F
208	Orange	7.4 µg/L	No	10	C-
209	Duncanville	7.3 µg/L	No	5	B+
210	Lubbock	7.2 µg/L	No	1231	F
211	Robinson	7.0 µg/L	No	2	A-
212	Hewitt	7.0 µg/L	No	4	A-
213	Canyon	6.9 µg/L	No	5	F
214	Saginaw	6.8 µg/L	No	4	A-
215	Forest Hill	6.8 µg/L	No	7	A-
216	Addison	6.7 µg/L	No	3	C
217	Hurst	6.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
218	Desoto	6.5 µg/L	No	2	A-
219	Balch Springs	6.4 µg/L	No	8	B
220	Lake Dallas	6.3 µg/L	No	2	B-
221	Highland Village	6.2 µg/L	No	3	A-
222	Flower Mound	6.2 µg/L	No	2	C
223	Amarillo	5.8 µg/L	No	26	F
224	Keller	5.8 µg/L	No	1	B+
225	Fort Worth	5.6 µg/L	No	25	F
226	Watauga	5.5 µg/L	No	4	A-
227	Arlington	5.4 µg/L	No	5	D+
228	Crowley	5.4 µg/L	No	2	C+
229	Granbury	5.3 µg/L	No	28	F
230	Humble	5.1 µg/L	No	1	B+
231	Lancaster	5.0 µg/L	No	5	B-
232	College Station	4.8 µg/L	No	2	B-
233	Denton	4.6 µg/L	No	3	F
234	Seagoville	4.5 µg/L	No	7	B
235	Rosenberg	4.4 µg/L	No	1	C-
236	Dripping Springs	4.4 µg/L	No	45	F
237	Bryan	4.2 µg/L	No	11	D
238	Sugar Land	4.2 µg/L	No	4	F
239	Burkburnett	4.1 µg/L	No	45	B-
240	San Antonio	4.0 µg/L	No	25	F
241	Fredericksburg	3.6 µg/L	No	129	D
242	Adkins	3.6 µg/L	No	2	A-
243	Sweetwater	3.5 µg/L	No	8	B
244	Stephenville	3.3 µg/L	No	39	F
245	Alvin	3.2 µg/L	No	37	F
246	Marion	3.1 µg/L	No	2	B-
247	Magnolia	3.1 µg/L	No	2	F
248	Lindale	3.0 µg/L	No	3	C
249	Kingsville	2.9 µg/L	No	45	D+
250	Itasca	2.8 µg/L	No	67	F
251	Cotulla	2.8 µg/L	No	6	D
252	Stafford	2.7 µg/L	No	1	A-
253	Italy	2.4 µg/L	No	6	B-
254	Schertz	2.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
255	Pleasanton	2.2 µg/L	No	7	B+
256	George West	2.2 µg/L	No	6	F
257	Bellmead	2.2 µg/L	No	3	B-
258	Converse	2.1 µg/L	No	1	A
259	Hidalgo	2.1 µg/L	No	1	B-
260	Horizon City	2.0 µg/L	No	1	A
261	Tomball	2.0 µg/L	No	25	C
262	Lavernia	1.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
263	Live Oak	1.9 µg/L	No	0	A
264	Navasota	1.9 µg/L	No	6	F
265	Giddings	1.8 µg/L	No	7	F
266	Vernon	1.5 µg/L	No	163	D
267	Colorado City	1.5 µg/L	No	2	B
268	Leon Valley	1.5 µg/L	No	1	C
269	Garden Ridge	1.4 µg/L	No	0	A-
270	Keene	1.4 µg/L	No	22	F
271	Wellington	1.3 µg/L	No	10	A-
272	Atascosa	1.3 µg/L	No	17	D
273	Bay City	1.2 µg/L	No	14	F
274	Pilot Point	1.2 µg/L	No	5	C+
275	Del Rio	1.1 µg/L	No	117	F
276	Hereford	1.1 µg/L	No	13	F
277	Lytle	1.1 µg/L	No	28	D
278	Jasper	1.1 µg/L	No	77	F
279	Brady	1.1 µg/L	No	746	D
280	Andrews	1.1 µg/L	No	157	D
281	Buda	0.9 µg/L	No	6	C+
282	Jbsa Lackland	0.8 µg/L	No	4	B+
283	Lumberton	0.8 µg/L	No	0	B+
284	Universal City	0.8 µg/L	No	0	B+
285	Missouri City	0.7 µg/L	No	6	F
286	Rio Vista	0.6 µg/L	No	1	C+
287	Sweeny	0.5 µg/L	No	3	C+
288	Uvalde	0.3 µg/L	No	0	D
289	El Campo	0.3 µg/L	No	19	F
290	Katy	0.2 µg/L	No	46	F
291	Pecos	0.2 µg/L	No	1	B+
292	Borger	0.2 µg/L	No	1	C-
293	New Caney	0.1 µg/L	No	6	F
294	Liberty	0.1 µg/L	No	5	A-
295	Dumas	0.0 µg/L	No	6	C+
296	Presidio	0.0 µg/L	No	8	B
297	Meadows Place	0.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
298	Barstow	0.0 µg/L	No	2	C

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about haa5 in Texas

What is HAA5 and why does it appear in Texas tap water?

HAA5 (haloacetic acids) are disinfection byproducts that form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. They are a normal byproduct of the disinfection process that makes water safe to drink. 4 cities in Texas exceed the EPA MCL of 60 µg/L. The state average is 15.7 µg/L.

How can I reduce HAA5 exposure from Texas drinking water?

Activated carbon filters (granular or block) effectively reduce HAA5. Refrigerator filters and under-sink carbon systems are convenient options. Unlike lead or PFAS, HAA5 levels can also be reduced by letting water stand in an open container, as some species evaporate. Boiling does NOT remove HAA5 and can concentrate them by reducing water volume.

Which Texas cities have the highest HAA5 levels?

The cities with the highest average HAA5 concentrations in Texas are: Bridgeport (134.5 µg/L), Alice (95.0 µg/L), San Angelo (84.5 µg/L), Crystal Beach (62.2 µg/L), Groves (58.1 µg/L). Note: this data is from UCMR 4 testing (2018–2020) and may not reflect current levels.

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