We read 11 results from Mcallen Public Utility’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 183,534 people · Water system ID TX1080006 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range 2 to 3.5 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 3.5 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal875x the health goal |
| Chloritehighest measured · range 0.05 to 0.85 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.85 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Above the health goal17x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested · listed as a violation in the report · printed as 0.0023 ppm · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 7 | 2.3 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal11x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.08 to 0.11 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.11 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloramineaverage · range 2.83 to 3.42 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 7 | 3.15 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.11 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Cyanidehighest measured · range 119 to 120 · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 120 ppb | 150 ppb | 200 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest measured · range 7.6 to 24.9 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 7 | 24.9 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.46 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treated water · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.47 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.13 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal 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 Mcallen Public Utility’s water between Jun 2023 and Mar 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium51.8 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.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
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