Austin Tap Water Quality Report
Austin's water has 5 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. We recommend using a certified water filter.
Other systems listed for Austin with results above guidelines: TRAVIS COUNTY MUD 10 (3 above guidelines), NORTH AUSTIN MUD 1 (3 above guidelines), TRAVIS COUNTY WCID 17 (3 above guidelines), NAMELESS HOLLOW CONDOMINIUMS (2 above guidelines), INDIAN SPRINGS SUBDIVISION (3 above guidelines), WILBARGER CREEK MUD 1 (2 above guidelines), BRIARCREEK SUBDIVISION (3 above guidelines), COTTONWOOD CREEK MUD 1 (2 above guidelines), MANVILLE WSC (7 above guidelines), LAKESIDE WCID 2-A (3 above guidelines), TRAVIS COUNTY MUD 14 (3 above guidelines), TRAVIS COUNTY MUD 2 (2 above guidelines)
Water system
CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER
12 other systems are listed for Austin. See their figures
People Served
1,044,405
Health-based violations since 2020
1
CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER. EPA SDWA violation data as of Q2 2026 (downloaded 2026-07-09).
Latest sample on file
Oct 2025 · CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER
Utilities publish newer results in their annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Is Austin Tap Water Safe to Drink?
We strongly recommend using a certified water filter to reduce exposure: Austin's water has 5 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines. Check our filter recommendations below for NSF-certified options that can remove the specific contaminants found in Austin's water.
CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER, Austin's water system, serves 1,044,405 people. 12 other systems are listed for Austin. Each system's results are listed under its own name, never added to CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER's. Water quality testing is conducted regularly and reported to the EPA. The latest sample on file for CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER is from Oct 2025.
Boil water advisories are issued by water systems and state agencies, and they change from day to day. Boil water advisories in Texas
Austin Water Service Areas
What these numbers actually mean for Austin, TX
We read Austin, TX’s published record and send you a short report — which findings warrant a decision, which to ignore, and what to do about it. Including when the answer is nothing.
- 5 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 7 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file)
- 242 results on file
- 23 PFAS compounds on record
Buying a home here? Property Water Report — $49 Emailed within one business day.
Get the Weekly Water Brief
One email a week on water testing, treatment, and what water-quality data means for your home.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.
Recommended Water Filters for Austin
Based on Austin's water quality data, these NSF-certified filters are recommended to remove contaminants above EPA MCLGs.
Culligan
ZeroWater
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
1.9 gpm
Daily Production
1 gpd
Highlights:
- Compact design
- Easy to set up
- Affordable
- NSF-42, NSF-53, NSF-401 certified
Removes 19 contaminants:
+14 more
Strontium, Molybdenum, Fluoride, Uranium, Lead, Total PFAS, Chlorine, 25, Phosphorus, Bicarbonate, Calcium, Carbonate, Magnesium, Sodium
Santevia
Bath Filter
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
0.36 gpm
Highlights:
- Organic cotton design reduces plastic used in construction
- Affordable upfront & ongoing cost
- The only bath filter that removed 100% chlorine with “normal” faster faucet flow
Removes 1 contaminants:
Waterdrop
A1
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
1 gpm
Highlights:
- Performance certified
- Lower price than Philips
- Hot water dispensing
- Compact design
Removes 5 contaminants:
Whirlpool Corporation
W11256135
NSF Certified:
Capacity
1001 gal
Filter Life
3 mo
Flow Rate
0.7 gpm
Removes 19 contaminants:
+14 more
Benzene, Carbofuran, Chlorine (Free), Chlorine (Total), Chlorine Dioxide, Chlorobenzene, Cryptosporidium, Ethylbenzene, Lead, Mercury, Metolachlor, Tetrachloroethylene, Toxaphene, Turbidity
Verify Your Water Quality with Independent Testing
With 5 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 7 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file), independent laboratory testing provides a second opinion and can track changes over time.
SimpleLab
Advanced Home Water Test
$269
Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.
Tap Score
PFAS Forever Chemicals Test
$339.95
Specialized test for PFOA, PFOS, and 24 other forever chemicals. Essential for areas near military bases, airports, or industrial sites.
Tap Score
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test
$275
Tests for disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water treatment.
With 5 contaminants above health guidelines, you may want to explore water purification options. Learn how to make distilled water at home for applications like humidifiers, CPAP machines, and baby formula.
What Austin's water readings can explain
Utility-reported data for Austin includes turbidity, sulfate and a chlorine-based disinfectant — the readings behind these common tap water questions. We publish a city-level hardness figure for Austin, resolved from its water systems where they report one and estimated from county sampling where they do not. Each page starts with the hot-tap and cold-tap check, then shows what your own water system reported.
On a private well near Austin? Public-water results do not apply to private wells. See Travis County well water testing and USGS risk data — modeled arsenic, nitrate, and the tests to run.
Water softener cost and installation in Austin
Austin's tap water measures 3.7 grains per gallon (62.8 mg/L) — moderately hard on the USGS scale, below the range where scale is usually worth treating.
Water softener cost for 3.7 gpg water in Austin — equipment and local installation labour for your ZIP code, with the sizing arithmetic shown in full. For the national picture first, read what a water softener costs — equipment, installation labour and ten-year ownership, each separated out. For Texas as a whole, read water softener cost in Texas — priced against the plumber wage published for the state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Tap Water
Austin's water has 5 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. We strongly recommend using a certified water filter to reduce exposure to these contaminants. Check our filter recommendations below for NSF-certified options that can remove the specific contaminants found in Austin's water.
Spotted something off on this page?
Residents keep our data honest.
This form corrects our data; it does not reach CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER. For a problem with your water now (discolored water, no water, low pressure, a leak), contact CITY OF AUSTIN WATER & WASTEWATER directly.
Check another location
Get the Weekly Water Brief
One email a week on water testing, treatment, and what water-quality data means for your home.
One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.