Is Austin tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

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

78/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
10.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Austin

Very Hard Water (10.5 GPG)

Hard water causes scale in pipes and shortens appliance lifespan.

Hardness data for Austin

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Austin

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Austin
Texas

787,017,870,278,703 · Colorado River Lake Austin and Lake Travis

Austin, TX Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 978,908 residents
See Best Filters for Austin
78
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.8 mg/L
Arsenic
0.3 mg/L
Hardness
10.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 10.5 GPG, Austin's water qualifies as very hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Austin's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

78 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Austin tap water is sourced from Colorado River Lake Austin and Lake Travis and treated by Austin Water. Water hardness is hard at 10.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 78/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Austin's 3 issues.

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Austin Water FAQ

Is Austin TX tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Austin tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 78/100 (Good) 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 Austin TX use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Austin uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.2 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 Austin TX water and what is the TDS level?
Austin water hardness is 10.5 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 380 ppm (poor). 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 Austin TX drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Austin drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Austin?
Based on Austin's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Austin has very hard water (10.5 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
  • Austin Water CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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