Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Texas Drinking Water

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

295

Cities Tested

295

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

13.1 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

900

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Texas: what the data shows

Texas has 295 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 295 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Texas

100%

295 of 295 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Texas

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

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Texas

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Texas cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Wichita Falls	483 violations	Yes	823	F
2	Houston	362 violations	Yes	929	F
3	Odessa	216 violations	Yes	225	F
4	Vernon	164 violations	Yes	163	D
5	Collinsville	159 violations	Yes	27	D
6	Wolfforth	151 violations	Yes	551	D
7	Austin	138 violations	Yes	1288	F
8	Lubbock	135 violations	Yes	1231	F
9	Tahoka	111 violations	Yes	303	F
10	Bloomington	87 violations	Yes	14	D
11	Shallowater	76 violations	Yes	374	D
12	Midland	75 violations	Yes	231	F
13	Roscoe	67 violations	Yes	71	D+
14	Cypress	64 violations	Yes	624	F
15	Texarkana	61 violations	Yes	17	F
16	Pearland	50 violations	Yes	14	F
17	Baytown	46 violations	Yes	6	F
18	Burkburnett	44 violations	Yes	45	B-
19	Wheeler	43 violations	Yes	45	B-
20	Fredericksburg	40 violations	Yes	129	D
21	Miles	37 violations	Yes	64	B
22	Vidor	36 violations	Yes	250	F
23	Chillicothe	34 violations	Yes	54	D
24	Amarillo	33 violations	Yes	26	F
25	Stanton	32 violations	Yes	90	D
26	Hunt	30 violations	Yes	63	D
27	Lamesa	28 violations	Yes	151	F
28	Seymour	28 violations	Yes	29	B+
29	Huntington	26 violations	Yes	472	F
30	Weatherford	25 violations	Yes	140	F
31	Burnet	25 violations	Yes	85	F
32	Plainview	18 violations	Yes	25	F
33	Crowell	18 violations	Yes	103	D
34	Morton	17 violations	Yes	110	D
35	Newark	17 violations	Yes	3	D
36	Waco	16 violations	Yes	53	F
37	Rule	16 violations	Yes	25	B+
38	Athens	15 violations	Yes	95	F
39	Fort Worth	14 violations	Yes	25	F
40	Laredo	14 violations	Yes	111	F
41	Richmond	14 violations	Yes	3	F
42	Spring	14 violations	Yes	36	F
43	Grand Saline	14 violations	Yes	5	D
44	Colmesneil	14 violations	Yes	25	F
45	Silsbee	12 violations	Yes	22	F
46	Trinity	12 violations	Yes	63	F
47	Linden	12 violations	Yes	7	F
48	Joaquin	12 violations	Yes	48	F
49	Leander	11 violations	Yes	5	F
50	Canyon Lake	11 violations	Yes	39	F
51	Sanger	11 violations	Yes	8	D
52	Arlington	10 violations	Yes	5	D+
53	The Woodlands	10 violations	Yes	19	F
54	Giddings	10 violations	Yes	7	F
55	El Paso	9 violations	Yes	192	F
56	San Angelo	9 violations	Yes	40	F
57	Del Rio	9 violations	Yes	117	F
58	Granbury	9 violations	Yes	28	F
59	Commerce	9 violations	Yes	32	D
60	Splendora	9 violations	Yes	4	D
61	Wellington	9 violations	Yes	10	A-
62	Thrall	9 violations	Yes	11	A-
63	Anderson	9 violations	Yes	12	D
64	Harlingen	8 violations	Yes	1	C
65	Kerrville	8 violations	Yes	131	F
66	Hereford	8 violations	Yes	13	F
67	Keene	8 violations	Yes	22	F
68	Elmendorf	8 violations	Yes	5	F
69	Dublin	8 violations	Yes	37	F
70	Seagraves	8 violations	Yes	262	D
71	Mclean	8 violations	Yes	8	A-
72	Dallas	7 violations	Yes	102	F
73	Stephenville	7 violations	Yes	39	F
74	Pinehurst	7 violations	Yes	38	F
75	Comfort	7 violations	Yes	140	D
76	Rotan	7 violations	Yes	29	F
77	Electra	7 violations	Yes	11	B
78	Lakewood Village	7 violations	Yes	8	C-
79	Tyler	6 violations	Yes	53	F
80	Nacogdoches	6 violations	Yes	17	F
81	Seguin	6 violations	Yes	42	F
82	Carrizo Springs	6 violations	Yes	5	F
83	Clifton	6 violations	Yes	19	D
84	Aledo	6 violations	Yes	24	C
85	Marfa	6 violations	Yes	78	D
86	Aspermont	6 violations	Yes	32	F
87	Grand Prairie	5 violations	Yes	10	F
88	Carthage	5 violations	Yes	42	D
89	Coleman	5 violations	Yes	39	F
90	Santa Fe	5 violations	Yes	25	F
91	Martindale	5 violations	Yes	7	C+
92	Somerville	5 violations	Yes	17	C-
93	Concan	5 violations	Yes	4	C+
94	Port O Connor	5 violations	Yes	22	D
95	Meadow	5 violations	Yes	97	D
96	New Braunfels	4 violations	Yes	15	D
97	Katy	4 violations	Yes	46	F
98	Terrell	4 violations	Yes	21	F
99	Henderson	4 violations	Yes	57	F
100	Lake Jackson	4 violations	Yes	6	D
101	Jbsa Lackland	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
102	Uvalde	4 violations	Yes	0	D
103	Crosby	4 violations	Yes	12	F
104	Clyde	4 violations	Yes	111	F
105	Moody	4 violations	Yes	6	C-
106	Hudson Oaks	4 violations	Yes	13	F
107	Winona	4 violations	Yes	23	D
108	Brazoria	4 violations	Yes	2	C-
109	Bailey	4 violations	Yes	2	B-
110	Ladonia	4 violations	Yes	4	B
111	San Antonio	3 violations	Yes	25	F
112	Georgetown	3 violations	Yes	3	F
113	Sugar Land	3 violations	Yes	4	F
114	Denton	3 violations	Yes	3	F
115	Beaumont	3 violations	Yes	42	F
116	Temple	3 violations	Yes	31	C-
117	Victoria	3 violations	Yes	28	F
118	Red Oak	3 violations	Yes	10	B+
119	Livingston	3 violations	Yes	398	F
120	Alvin	3 violations	Yes	37	F
121	Azle	3 violations	Yes	30	F
122	Lytle	3 violations	Yes	28	D
123	Pittsburg	3 violations	Yes	5	F
124	Mercedes	3 violations	Yes	22	F
125	Kaufman	3 violations	Yes	18	C
126	Atascosa	3 violations	Yes	17	D
127	Quinlan	3 violations	Yes	14	F
128	Jonestown	3 violations	Yes	8	F
129	Whitney	3 violations	Yes	11	D+
130	Fritch	3 violations	Yes	3	C
131	Smithville	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
132	Haskell	3 violations	Yes	84	F
133	George West	3 violations	Yes	6	F
134	Woodlawn	3 violations	Yes	47	D
135	Shamrock	3 violations	Yes	7	A-
136	Kerens	3 violations	Yes	28	D
137	Earth	3 violations	Yes	5	B+
138	Lawn	3 violations	Yes	44	C
139	Round Rock	2 violations	Yes	17	F
140	Bastrop	2 violations	Yes	31	F
141	Longview	2 violations	Yes	20	F
142	Flower Mound	2 violations	Yes	2	C
143	Rockwall	2 violations	Yes	4	D
144	Magnolia	2 violations	Yes	2	F
145	Little Elm	2 violations	Yes	2	C
146	Missouri City	2 violations	Yes	6	F
147	Angleton	2 violations	Yes	47	F
148	Melissa	2 violations	Yes	4	B
149	Boerne	2 violations	Yes	24	F
150	Crockett	2 violations	Yes	47	F
151	Alice	2 violations	Yes	103	F
152	New Caney	2 violations	Yes	6	F
153	Tomball	2 violations	Yes	25	C
154	Addison	2 violations	Yes	3	C
155	Canyon	2 violations	Yes	5	F
156	Van Alstyne	2 violations	Yes	0	C-
157	El Campo	2 violations	Yes	19	F
158	Dripping Springs	2 violations	Yes	45	F
159	Mont Belvieu	2 violations	Yes	19	F
160	Hillsboro	2 violations	Yes	25	F
161	Bellmead	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
162	Canton	2 violations	Yes	9	D+
163	Liberty Hill	2 violations	Yes	6	C-
164	West Lake Hills	2 violations	Yes	1	B
165	Manvel	2 violations	Yes	2	D
166	Seminole	2 violations	Yes	123	D+
167	Decatur	2 violations	Yes	14	D
168	Jefferson	2 violations	Yes	23	F
169	Alpine	2 violations	Yes	5	D
170	Sinton	2 violations	Yes	7	C-
171	Muleshoe	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
172	Winters	2 violations	Yes	45	D
173	Ranger	2 violations	Yes	82	F
174	Shepherd	2 violations	Yes	4	C
175	Gary	2 violations	Yes	90	F
176	Chilton	2 violations	Yes	8	D
177	Big Sandy	2 violations	Yes	13	B-
178	Snook	2 violations	Yes	2	D
179	Naples	2 violations	Yes	1	D
180	Hawkins	2 violations	Yes	2	D
181	Queen City	2 violations	Yes	67	D+
182	Wells	2 violations	Yes	144	D
183	Wolfe City	2 violations	Yes	24	C+
184	Zavalla	2 violations	Yes	83	F
185	Paducah	2 violations	Yes	6	D
186	Waelder	2 violations	Yes	0	B-
187	Burkeville	2 violations	Yes	2	D+
188	Mertzon	2 violations	Yes	5	A-
189	Bardwell	2 violations	Yes	31	B-
190	Riviera	2 violations	Yes	79	D+
191	Edroy	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
192	Edinburg	1 violations	Yes	12	C-
193	Killeen	1 violations	Yes	11	F
194	San Marcos	1 violations	Yes	56	C-
195	Richardson	1 violations	Yes	30	F
196	Aubrey	1 violations	Yes	3	F
197	Huntsville	1 violations	Yes	128	F
198	Wylie	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
199	Eagle Pass	1 violations	Yes	45	D+
200	Joshua	1 violations	Yes	2	C-
201	Desoto	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
202	Coupland	1 violations	Yes	6	C
203	Belton	1 violations	Yes	22	F
204	Navasota	1 violations	Yes	6	F
205	Niederwald	1 violations	Yes	6	B-
206	Fate	1 violations	Yes	0	B
207	Sulphur Springs	1 violations	Yes	18	C
208	Kilgore	1 violations	Yes	26	F
209	Marshall	1 violations	Yes	46	F
210	Gainesville	1 violations	Yes	13	D
211	Buda	1 violations	Yes	6	C+
212	Wellborn	1 violations	Yes	11	A-
213	Watauga	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
214	Corinth	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
215	New Waverly	1 violations	Yes	44	F
216	Willis	1 violations	Yes	12	F
217	Crowley	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
218	Pampa	1 violations	Yes	7	B
219	Rio Grande	1 violations	Yes	6	B
220	Hallsville	1 violations	Yes	20	B
221	Bay City	1 violations	Yes	14	F
222	Itasca	1 violations	Yes	67	F
223	Dayton	1 violations	Yes	4	D
224	Andrews	1 violations	Yes	157	D
225	Mexia	1 violations	Yes	7	F
226	Beeville	1 violations	Yes	46	F
227	Montgomery	1 violations	Yes	35	D
228	Port Lavaca	1 violations	Yes	47	F
229	Snyder	1 violations	Yes	12	B-
230	Fair Oaks Ranch	1 violations	Yes	0	B
231	Rio Grande City	1 violations	Yes	3	C+
232	Crandall	1 violations	Yes	11	C-
233	Millsap	1 violations	Yes	3	B
234	Crystal City	1 violations	Yes	0	C+
235	River Oaks	1 violations	Yes	39	C+
236	Kennedale	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
237	Castroville	1 violations	Yes	3	C+
238	Lampasas	1 violations	Yes	14	C-
239	Glen Rose	1 violations	Yes	36	D
240	Douglass	1 violations	Yes	4	B
241	Lacy Lakeview	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
242	Columbus	1 violations	Yes	52	F
243	Wilmer	1 violations	Yes	10	B-
244	Wimberley	1 violations	Yes	8	F
245	Bullard	1 violations	Yes	3	B
246	Everman	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
247	Groesbeck	1 violations	Yes	131	F
248	Cotulla	1 violations	Yes	6	D
249	Buna	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
250	Yantis	1 violations	Yes	5	C+
251	Elsa	1 violations	Yes	5	B-
252	Goodfellow Afb	1 violations	Yes	6	C+
253	Alto	1 violations	Yes	9	D
254	San Augustine	1 violations	Yes	96	D
255	Morgans Point Resort	1 violations	Yes	10	B
256	Tatum	1 violations	Yes	32	D
257	Haslet	1 violations	Yes	0	D
258	De Leon	1 violations	Yes	45	F
259	Blanco	1 violations	Yes	45	D
260	Bishop	1 violations	Yes	10	A-
261	Elysian Fields	1 violations	Yes	1	D
262	Cactus	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
263	Freer	1 violations	Yes	50	C-
264	Hamlin	1 violations	Yes	29	C-
265	Bivins	1 violations	Yes	37	D
266	Vinton	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
267	La Villa	1 violations	Yes	43	C+
268	Refugio	1 violations	Yes	0	B-
269	Mount Calm	1 violations	Yes	51	D
270	Runaway Bay	1 violations	Yes	28	D
271	Ivanhoe	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
272	Anahuac	1 violations	Yes	30	A-
273	Memphis	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
274	Johnson City	1 violations	Yes	1	D
275	Eden	1 violations	Yes	63	B+
276	La Pryor	1 violations	Yes	81	B
277	Chico	1 violations	Yes	65	D
278	Karnack	1 violations	Yes	13	B-
279	Runge	1 violations	Yes	6	C+
280	Wallis	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
281	Davenport	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
282	Garwood	1 violations	Yes	2	D+
283	Sudan	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
284	Anton	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
285	Woodlake	1 violations	Yes	33	F
286	Saint Jo	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
287	Trenton	1 violations	Yes	0	C+
288	Silverton	1 violations	Yes	62	D
289	Rising Star	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
290	Deport	1 violations	Yes	3	C+
291	Dodd City	1 violations	Yes	2	B-
292	Stonewall	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
293	Center Point	1 violations	Yes	5	D
294	Talco	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
295	Evadale	1 violations	Yes	2	B-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Texas

Is nitrate in Texas tap water dangerous?

Yes — 295 cities in Texas have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Texas water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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