Is Odessa tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Odessa's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

73/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
19 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Odessa

Very Hard Water (19 GPG)

Hard water causes scale in pipes and shortens appliance lifespan.

Hardness data for Odessa

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Odessa

Arsenic Approaching Limit (1.8 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Odessa
Texas

797,617,976,279,763 · T-Bar Wellfield and Colorado River MWD

Odessa, TX Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 115,586 residents
73
Purity Score

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 19 GPG, Odessa's water qualifies as very hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Odessa's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

73 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Odessa tap water is sourced from T-Bar Wellfield and Colorado River MWD and treated by City of Odessa Water Utilities. Water hardness is very hard at 19.0 GPG which may cause scale buildup. TDS is 680 ppm which is above the EPA secondary guideline of 500 ppm. Overall purity score: 73/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

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Odessa Water FAQ

Is Odessa TX tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Odessa tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 73/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Odessa TX use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Odessa uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.8 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 Odessa TX water and what is the TDS level?
Odessa water hardness is 19.0 grains per gallon (very hard) with a TDS of 680 ppm (unacceptable). 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 Odessa TX drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Odessa drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Odessa?
Based on Odessa's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Odessa has very hard water (19.0 GPG) and elevated chlorine. A whole-house carbon plus softener system handles both.

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Odessa Water Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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