Is Amarillo tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

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

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

3 Issues Detected in Amarillo

Very Hard Water (18.5 GPG)

Hard water causes scale in pipes and shortens appliance lifespan.

Hardness data for Amarillo

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Amarillo

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.5 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Amarillo
Texas

791,017,910,279,103 · Groundwater Ogallala Aquifer

Amarillo, TX Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 199,371 residents
See Best Filters for Amarillo
73
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2.5 ppb
Nitrate
2.2 mg/L
Arsenic
0.5 mg/L
Hardness
18.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 18.5 GPG, Amarillo's water qualifies as very hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Amarillo's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

73 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Amarillo tap water is sourced from Groundwater Ogallala Aquifer and treated by City of Amarillo Water Utilities. Water hardness is very hard at 18.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. TDS is 650 ppm which is above the EPA secondary guideline of 500 ppm. Overall purity score: 73/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Amarillo's 3 issues.

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Amarillo Water FAQ

Is Amarillo TX tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Amarillo 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 Amarillo TX use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Amarillo uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.6 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 Amarillo TX water and what is the TDS level?
Amarillo water hardness is 18.5 grains per gallon (very hard) with a TDS of 650 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 Amarillo TX drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Amarillo drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Amarillo?
Based on Amarillo's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Amarillo has very hard water (18.5 GPG) and elevated chlorine. A whole-house carbon plus softener system handles both.

Nearby Reports

HoustonTexas — 59/100DallasTexas — 64/100College StationTexas — 69/100LubbockTexas — 71/100San AntonioTexas — 73/100MidlandTexas — 73/100

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Data Sources

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

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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