Texas – The Lone Star State – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your state
Texas operates the nation’s largest water infrastructure network, serving over 31 million residents across 268,596 square miles through approximately 6,900 public water systems. From the Trinity River Basin that supplies Dallas-Fort Worth to the Gulf Coast aquifers serving Houston, Texas water sources include 15 major river basins, 9 major aquifers, and 22 minor aquifers. The state faces unprecedented water challenges as population growth accelerates and aging infrastructure strains under increasing demand. Municipal water use is projected to overtake agricultural irrigation as the largest consumer by 2060, requiring massive infrastructure investments to meet growing needs.
Texas lawmakers recently passed a historic $20 billion water infrastructure plan, allocating $1 billion annually from 2027 to 2047 to address the state’s water crisis. According to the Texas Water Development Board’s 2022 State Water Plan, the state needs an estimated $154 billion by 2050 for water infrastructure, including $59 billion for water supply projects, $74 billion for aging pipes and infrastructure maintenance, and $21 billion for wastewater system repairs. With drought conditions persisting across much of the state and climate projections indicating more severe water stress ahead, Texas is implementing advanced water management strategies including desalination, water recycling, and aquifer storage and recovery systems to ensure water security for future generations.
Texas Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Statewide Compliance and Infrastructure
- System Scale: Texas operates approximately 6,900 public water systems serving over 31 million residents, making it the largest water infrastructure network in the United States with massive regional variations in water quality and supply reliability.
- Infrastructure Investment: The Texas Legislature approved a historic $20 billion water infrastructure plan in 2025, providing $1 billion annually through 2047 to address aging infrastructure, drought resilience, and emerging contaminant treatment needs.
- PFAS Monitoring: Nearly 50 Texas public water systems have reported PFAS levels exceeding new EPA limits, with systems like Fort Worth and Dallas requiring significant treatment upgrades to meet 2029 compliance deadlines.
Regional Water Source Challenges
- Trinity River Basin: Supplies Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with documented PFAS contamination requiring advanced treatment implementation across multiple major utilities serving millions of residents.
- Gulf Coast Aquifer: Critical water source for Houston region facing saltwater intrusion concerns and mandatory pumping reductions to prevent land subsidence, threatening long-term water security.
- Rio Grande Valley: International water sharing challenges with Mexico combined with severe drought conditions have reduced reservoir levels to critical lows, impacting agricultural and municipal water supplies.
Drought and Supply Security
- Current Drought Status: Much of Texas continues experiencing drought conditions, with the most severe impacts in West Texas near El Paso and South Texas, where reservoir levels have dropped to historically low levels.
- Supply Projections: The 2022 State Water Plan projects that municipal water demand will exceed irrigation as the largest water use category by 2060, requiring unprecedented infrastructure expansion and conservation measures.
- Water Loss Crisis: Texas water systems lose an estimated 572,000 acre-feet annually through aging pipes and infrastructure failures, equivalent to enough water to supply 1.4 million homes for a year.
Population Growth and Demand
- Rapid Expansion: Texas added over 562,000 residents from 2023 to 2024, reaching 31.3 million people, with population projected to grow 73% to 51.5 million by 2070, dramatically increasing water demand.
- Urban Growth Centers: Major metropolitan areas including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio face the greatest water stress as rapid development outpaces infrastructure capacity and water supply availability.
- Agricultural Transition: Traditional agricultural water use patterns are shifting as urban development pressures and water scarcity force difficult allocation decisions between competing uses.
Looking Forward: 2025-2030
Texas stands at a critical juncture in its water future, with the convergence of record population growth, persistent drought conditions, aging infrastructure, and emerging contaminant challenges requiring unprecedented investment and innovation. The state’s historic $20 billion infrastructure commitment represents a significant down payment on the estimated $154 billion needed by 2050. Success will depend on coordinated efforts between the Texas Water Development Board, regional water authorities, and local utilities to implement advanced technologies including desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, and water recycling systems while addressing PFAS contamination and infrastructure modernization across the state’s vast and diverse water systems.
Recommendations for Texas Residents
Monitor Your Local Water System
Contact your water utility for annual water quality reports and PFAS testing results. Check the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) website for drought restrictions and water quality violations in your area.
Support Water Infrastructure Funding
Advocate for the $20 billion water infrastructure plan and participate in local water planning processes. Support utility rate structures that enable necessary upgrades for drought resilience and PFAS treatment.
Implement Water Conservation
Follow drought restrictions and consider xeriscaping with native plants. Install water-efficient fixtures and appliances to reduce demand on strained water systems during Texas’s ongoing growth and drought challenges.
Report Water Quality Issues
Contact your local water utility immediately for taste, odor, or color concerns. Report suspected contamination to TCEQ’s 24-hour environmental emergency hotline at (512) 339-2929 for immediate investigation.
Plan for Drought Conditions
Prepare for ongoing drought restrictions by investing in drought-tolerant landscaping and rainwater harvesting systems. Monitor local drought stage declarations and adjust water use accordingly to preserve supplies.
Texas Cities We Cover
Major Metropolitan Areas
Regional Centers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas’s tap water safe to drink?
Most of Texas’s 6,900 public water systems meet federal drinking water standards, though some areas face challenges with aging infrastructure and emerging contaminants.
Nearly 50 Texas water systems have reported PFAS levels exceeding new EPA limits, particularly in major metropolitan areas like Dallas and Fort Worth. The state’s $20 billion infrastructure investment will help utilities upgrade treatment systems and replace aging pipes that contribute to water quality issues. Rural and smaller systems may face additional challenges with limited resources for infrastructure improvements.
Why is Texas running out of water?
Texas faces a convergence of rapid population growth, persistent drought conditions, aging infrastructure, and increasing water demand from multiple sectors.
The state’s population grew to over 31 million in 2024 and is projected to reach 51.5 million by 2070 – a 73% increase. Meanwhile, water supply is projected to decrease 18%, with groundwater declining 32%. The 2022 State Water Plan warns that if severe drought occurs in 2030 without new water strategies, Texas could face a shortage of 4.7 million acre-feet – more than 20% of projected demand.
How do I find information about my local water quality?
Texas residents can access water quality information through several resources:
• Annual Water Quality Reports: Contact your water utility directly for their Consumer Confidence Report detailing testing results and any violations
• TCEQ Database: Visit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality website to search for your water system’s compliance history and testing data
• PFAS Testing Results: Many utilities now provide PFAS monitoring data as required by EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
• Drought Information: Check TCEQ’s drought information portal for current water restrictions and emergency declarations in your area
What is Texas doing about its water infrastructure crisis?
Texas has implemented its most ambitious water infrastructure plan in history:
$20 Billion Investment: The Legislature approved $1 billion annually from 2027-2047 for water supply projects, infrastructure repairs, and drought resilience
Emergency Funding: An additional $2.5 billion in immediate funding from budget surplus for urgent infrastructure needs
Advanced Technologies: Investment in desalination plants, water recycling systems, aquifer storage and recovery, and pipeline projects to transport water from water-rich to water-scarce regions
Regional Planning: The Texas Water Development Board coordinates with 16 regional water planning groups to develop comprehensive strategies for meeting future demand
Contaminants of Concern
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Industrial facilities, military bases, airports using firefighting foam, wastewater treatment plants, and biosolids application as fertilizer on agricultural land
Health Effects: Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, thyroid changes, and developmental effects in children
Current Status: Nearly 50 Texas water systems exceed new EPA limits, with Fort Worth reporting PFHxS levels up to 25.8 parts per trillion above the 10 ppt limit EPA Limits: 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually, 10 ppt for PFHxS, with hazard index for chemical mixtures
Drought-Related Water Quality Issues
Source: Reduced water flows concentrate existing contaminants, aging infrastructure failures during stress conditions, and increased demand on limited water supplies
Health Effects: Increased risk of waterborne illness from infrastructure failures, elevated concentrations of naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, and system pressure drops leading to contamination
Current Status: Over 200 water-use restrictions issued across Texas counties in 2024, with frequent boil water notices in rural areas due to system failures Infrastructure Response: $20 billion state investment targeting aging pipes and drought-resilient water supplies
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