We read 18 results from City of Midland Water Purification Plant’s 2023 water quality report. 2 results over a legal limit and 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 157,000 people · Water system ID TX1650001 · Read the district’s 2023 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2023 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 running annual average · range ND to 13 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 5 | 11 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Over the legal limit1.1x the legal limit |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treatment plant · 2023 report, page 6 | 1.9 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Over the legal limit1.9x the legal limit |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)highest measured · range 12.6 to 12.6 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 6 | 12.6 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2023 report, page 5 | 1.5 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal7.5x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 1.5 to 1.5 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 6 | 1.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 4 | 4.1 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Uraniumhighest measured · range 1.4 to 1.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 6 | 1.4 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal2.3x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.16 to 0.16 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.16 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloramineaverage · range 0.04 to 6.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 6 | 2.59 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2023 report, page 5 | 0.26 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Cyanidehighest measured · range 146 to 146 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2022 · Entry points · 2023 report, page 5 | 146 ppb | 150 ppb | 200 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 26.8 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 5 | 23 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range ND to 97 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2023 report, page 5 | 74 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.21 to 1.35 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2023 report, page 6 | 1 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range 7.2 to 11.5 · printed as 0.0091 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry points · 2023 report, page 7 | 9.1 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Lithiumaverage · range 48 to 52.4 · sampled 2024 · Entry points · 2023 report, page 6 | 50.7 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)average · range 9 to 37.8 · printed as 0.0150 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry points · 2023 report, page 7 | 15 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 3.7 to 7.8 · printed as 0.0042 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry points · 2023 report, page 7 | 4.2 ppt | 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. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in City of Midland Water Purification Plant’s water between Aug 2023 and May 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS4.5 pptFound in 1 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS11.5 pptFound in 4 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS7.8 pptFound in 3 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium68.8 ppbFound in 6 of 6 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.
Sediment or cloudy water
Found: Turbidity (cloudiness)
What removes it: Sediment filter.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross beta (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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