We read 15 results from El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 6 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 748,393 people · Water system ID TX0710002 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenicaverage · range ND to 13 · printed as 0.0034 ppm · Distribution system average · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.4 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal850x the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.47 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.6x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)average · range ND to 3 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)average · range ND to 6.1 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.38 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Uraniumaverage · range ND to 3 · printed as 0.0015 ppm · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.5 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal2.5x the health goal |
| Bariumaverage · range 0.0038 to 0.2 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.09 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Bromateaverage · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 4 | Not detected | 0.1 ppb | 10 ppb | Not detected |
| Chloriteaverage · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.009 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chromium (total)average · range ND to 7.8 · printed as 0.0025 ppm · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.5 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 19.2 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 51 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.03 to 1.08 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.58 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range ND to 2.5 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.74 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Seleniumaverage · range ND to 5.4 · System-wide · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.54 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
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 El Paso Water Utilities Public Service B’s water between Jul 2023 and May 2026. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS8.5 pptFound in 2 of 57 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5.5 pptFound in 3 of 57 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS8.5 pptFound in 2 of 57 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium133 ppbFound in 57 of 57 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.
Copper
Found: Copper
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Gross beta (radioactivity), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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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