We read 30 results from Brownsville Public Utilities Board’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 7 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 176,362 people · Water system ID TX0310001 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range 2.2 to 2.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.4 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal600x the health goal |
| Chloritehighest measured · range ND to 0.9 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.9 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Above the health goal18x the health goal |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)highest measured · range 4.8 to 7.1 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 7.1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 4.72 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 3.9 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal557x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 7.99 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 5.3 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.3x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 7 | 1.54 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 639 to 905 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 772 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.5x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.09 to 0.1 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.1 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloramineaverage · range 0.5 to 5.9 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 3.25 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorideaverage · range 137 to 203 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 170 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorine dioxideaverage · range ND to 400 · listed as a violation in the report · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 8 | 44 ppb | None set | 800 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.11 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Cyanidehighest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 50 ppb | 150 ppb | 200 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest measured · range 6.8 to 17.3 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 17.3 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest measured · range 8.7 to 48.1 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 48.1 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.45 to 0.54 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.54 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.65 to 0.74 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.74 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range 3.15 to 4.38 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 3.67 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Seleniumhighest measured · range 3.6 to 3.6 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 7 | 3.6 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfateaverage · range 186 to 271 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 229 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · SWTP Plant 1, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.21 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Hardnessaverage · range 19.9 to 21.9 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 20.9 gpg (358 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Lithiumaverage · range 40.2 to 51.1 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 43.8 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 7.45 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 6.15 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 2.87 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 2.81 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHpA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 4.1 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 3.05 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)average · range 4.11 to 7.98 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 5.82 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)average · range 3.96 to 7.6 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 10 | 5.7 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 158 to 165 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 162 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Brownsville Public Utilities Board’s water between Jul 2024 and Jun 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.7 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS9.2 pptFound in 7 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS4.4 pptFound in 8 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium51.1 ppbFound in 8 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross beta (radioactivity)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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