Is Houston tap water safe to drink?

Use caution filtration recommended

Houston's water has significant quality concerns. We strongly recommend a certified water filter.

59/100
Purity Score
4
Issues Found
8 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

4 Issues Detected in Houston

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Houston

Moderately Hard Water (8 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Houston

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Houston

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.5 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Houston
Texas

770,017,700,277,003 · Lake Houston and Lake Livingston

Houston, TX Water Quality Report

Elevated Risk Updated March 2026 2.3M residents
See Best Filters for Houston
59
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
3.8 ppt
Lead
4.2 ppb
Nitrate
1.8 mg/L
Arsenic
0.5 mg/L
Hardness
8 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    With a hardness of 8 GPG, Houston residents may notice white scale on faucets. Hard water increases maintenance costs.
  • 2
    PFAS have been identified in Houston's water at 3.8 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
  • 3
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Houston's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

59 /100
Poor
"Good" threshold (70)

Houston tap water is sourced from Lake Houston and Lake Livingston and treated by City of Houston Public Works. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Water hardness is hard at 8.0 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 59/100 (Poor). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Houston's 4 issues.

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PFAS in HoustonForever chemicals
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Houston Water FAQ

Is Houston TX tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Houston tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 59/100 (Poor) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 3.8 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Houston TX use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Houston uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.7 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Houston TX water and what is the TDS level?
Houston water hardness is 8.0 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 290 ppm (fair). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in Houston TX drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Houston water at approximately 3.8 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.
What is the best water filter for Houston?
Based on Houston's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Houston: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

DallasTexas — 64/100College StationTexas — 69/100LubbockTexas — 71/100San AntonioTexas — 73/100MidlandTexas — 73/100OdessaTexas — 73/100

All Texas cities

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Houston Public Works CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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