Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Abilene?
Yes, Abilene's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Abilene has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Abilene's water utility, City of Abilene, had 1 health-based violations and 2 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Abilene was resolved on Feb. 28, 2021. This assessment is based on the City of Abilene water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Abilene Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Abilene tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Abilene's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Abilene Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Abilene for Abilene in Texas. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Feb. 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2021, Abilene had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Surface Water Treatment Rule.
From Feb. 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2021, Abilene had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.
From Feb. 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2021, Abilene had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Treatment Technique Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.
For the compliance period beginning Nov. 10, 2015, Abilene had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Public Notice Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Public Notice.
From July 1, 2015 to July 31, 2015, Abilene had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
For the compliance period beginning Nov. 10, 2011, Abilene had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Public Notice Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Public Notice.
Is there Lead in Abilene Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Abilene water system, City of Abilene, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Abilene water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Abilene contained more lead.
While Abilene water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Abilene Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Dyess Air Force Base - near Abilene with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Abilene has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Abilene SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/01/2021 - 02/28/2021 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) (36) | Surface Water Treatment Rule (121) | Surface Water Treatment Rule (0200) | Microbials (100) | Surface Water Treatment Rules (120) |
| 02/01/2021 - 02/28/2021 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) (38) | Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (122) | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0300) | Microbials (100) | Surface Water Treatment Rules (120) |
| 02/01/2021 - 02/28/2021 | Resolved | Yes | Treatment Technique Violation (TT) | Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) (44) | Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (122) | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0300) | Microbials (100) | Surface Water Treatment Rules (120) |
| 11/10/2015 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation (75) | Public Notice Rule (410) | Public Notice (7500) | Other (400) | Public Notice Rule (410) |
| 07/01/2015 - 07/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) (24) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 11/10/2011 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Public Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation (75) | Public Notice Rule (410) | Public Notice (7500) | Other (400) | Public Notice Rule (410) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Abilene Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | PO BOX 60 ABILENE, TX, 79604-0060 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Abilene account to pay their Abilene water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Abilene bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Abilene water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Abilene water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Abilene means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Abilene. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Abilene means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Abilene. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.5 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Abilene, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Abilene Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Abilene's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
SAVEABILENEWATER.COM
2020
ANNUAL & WATER QUALITY REPORTS
MESSAGE FROM
THE DIRECTOR OF
WATER UTILITIES
Abilene is a large city and continues to grow each year. Along with many new residential housing developments experiencing high levels of construction activity, Abilene’s downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods are also experiencing vibrant infill development. The strong demand for new water taps that Water
Utilities receives daily is a good indicator of this growth. Rest assured the Water Utilities Department is working hard to keep pace with the demands of our growing City while maintaining a high level of quality customer service.
In close coordination with several engineering consultant firms over the past year, Water Utilities has completed three master planning documents that evaluate risks and identify
20 to 30 years. Specifically, these master plans recommend a combined list of Capital Improvement Projects valued at over $500,000,000, to be completed over this timeframe. These projects address rehabilitation or replacement of existing but aging infrastructure, existing and/or projected capacity issues, and water plant rehabilitation and expansion. All of the projects are designed to meet projected water needs and meeting or exceeding regulatory water quality standards. The challenge before us now is developing a prioritized project schedule and an affordable financial plan to accomplish those needed improvements. City Administration and staff will be presenting capital improvement plans to the City Council during the budgeting process for its consideration and approval.
The Meter Replacement Project has been a topic of interest for the past couple of years. The City’s contractor began replacing aging water meters in late 2019. Currently the project is about 95% complete with over 41,000 old water meters having been replaced with state of the art smart water meters. All billing districts are now being read using the telemetry system. The customer portal is in development for rollout to the public in early summer 2021. This will allow our customers to access their individual metered consumption, reported on an hourly basis, to learn more about their water use. Customers can use the information to find ways to lower their bill, conserve water, and to activate various notification tools including water consumption limits and indicated private system leaks.
The Water Utilities Department will continue to provide a high level of customer service to its citizen customers. We are working hard to find affordable solutions to Abilene’s growing population and aging water utilities infrastructure issues. We all depend on reliable water and wastewater infrastructure for quality of life of both present and future generations.
Type of |
Year or |
Contaminant |
|
Contaminant |
Range |
(Unit of measure) |
|
|
2020 |
Arsenic (ppb) |
|
|
2020 |
Barium (ppm) |
|
Inorganic |
2020 |
Cyanide (ppb) |
|
|
|
||
Contaminants |
2020 |
Fluoride (ppm) |
|
|
|||
|
2020 |
Nitrate (ppm) |
|
|
2020 |
Selenium (ppb) |
|
|
2020 |
Uranium |
|
|
2020 |
Gross Alpha |
|
Radioactive |
2020 |
Gross Beta |
|
Contaminants |
|||
|
|
||
|
2020 |
Radium 228 (pCi/L) |
|
|
2017 |
Uranium (ug/L) |
|
|
2020 |
Total Haloacetic Acids (ppb) |
|
Disinfection |
2020 |
Total Trihalomethanes (ppb) |
|
Byproducts |
|||
|
|
||
|
2020 |
Chlorite (ppm) |
|
|
2020 |
Chloroform (ppb) |
|
Unregulated |
2020 |
Bromoform (ppb) |
|
|
|
||
Contaminants |
2020 |
Bromodichloromethane (ppb) |
|
|
|||
|
2020 |
Dibromochloromethane (ppb) |
|
|
|
|
Highest Level |
Range of Levels |
Detected |
Detected |
< 1.0 |
< 1.0 |
0.140 |
|
109 |
|
0.81 |
|
1 |
|
< 5.0 |
< 5.0 |
<0.0010 |
<0.0010 |
<3.0 |
<3.0 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
< 1.0 |
< 1.0 |
2.3 |
|
29.6 |
|
48.4 |
|
0.57 |
|
1.45 |
|
4.55 |
|
13.4 |
|
31.5 |
|
|
|
MCLG |
MCL |
Violation |
Source of Contaminant |
10 |
0 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits |
2 |
2 |
N |
Discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories; Discharge from steel/metal factories |
200 |
200 |
N |
Discharge from plastic and fertilizer factories; Discharge from steel/metal factories |
4 |
4.0 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive for strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories |
10.00 |
10 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks or sewage |
50.0 |
50 |
N |
Erosion from natural deposits; discharge from petroleum refineries |
0 |
0.03 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; Decay of natural and man made deposits |
0 |
15 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; Decay of natural and man made deposits |
N/A |
N/A |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; Decay of natural and man made deposits |
0 |
5 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; Decay of natural and man made deposits |
0 |
30 |
N |
Erosion of natural deposits; Decay of natural and man made deposits |
No goal for the total |
60 |
N |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
No goal for the total |
80 |
N |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
0.8 |
1 |
N |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS: |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal |
Action Level |
disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do |
other requirements which a water system must follow |
not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
Maximum Contaminant Level |
|
drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using |
|
best available treatment technology. |
|
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
|
below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. |
|
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
|
drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a |
Treatment Technique |
disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. |
drinking water. |
|
|
Type of Treatment |
Year or Range |
Disinfectant Used |
|
MRDL |
2020 |
Chloramines (ppm) |
|
Type of Contaminant |
Year or Range |
MCGL |
|
Lead (ppb) |
2020 |
0 |
|
Copper (ppm) |
2020 |
1.3 |
|
Type of Contaminant |
Year or Range |
Highest Single Level |
|
Detected |
|||
|
|
||
Turbidity (NTU) |
2020 |
0.23 |
|
Type of Contaminant |
Year or Range |
Contaminant Source |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
2020 |
Source Water |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
2020 |
Drinking Water |
|
Type of contaminant |
Year or Range |
Contaminant |
|
Asbestos |
2012 |
Asbestos |
|
Type of contaminant |
Year or Range |
Contaminant |
|
Total Coliform |
2020 |
Total Coliform Bacteria |
|
|
|
|
Average Level
2.8
The 90th Percentile
0
0.360
Lowest Monthly % of
Samples Meeting Limits
100.00%
Average Level
5.96
3.35
Average Level
ND
Highest Monthly % of
Positive Samples
0
Minimum Level
1
Number of sites
Exceeding Action Level
0
0
Limit (Treatment
Technique)
1
Minimum Level
3.60
1.80
Minimum Level
ND
MCL
*
Maximum Level
4.5
Action Level
15
1.3
Lowest Monthly %
meeting limit
0.3
Maximum Level
8.06
4.20
Maximum Level
ND
Unit of Measure
Presence
MRDL |
MRDLG |
4.0 4.0
Violation
No Violation
No Violation
Violation
No Violation
Unit of Measure
ppm ppm
MFL
7
Violation
No Monitoring Violation
Source of Contaminant
Disinfectant used to control microbes
Source of Contaminant
Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits
Corrosion of household plumbing systems;
erosion of natural deposits
Source of Contaminant
Soil runoff
Source of Contaminant
Naturally present in environment Naturally present in environment
Source of Contaminant
Construction Materials
Source of Contaminant
Naturally present in environment
Organic Contaminants — none detected
- Presence of Coliform bacteria in 5% or more of the monthly samples. Fecal Coliform — not detetced
Real Water Loss — 3.80%
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS: |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal |
Action Level |
disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do |
other requirements which a water system must follow |
not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
Maximum Contaminant Level |
|
drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using |
|
best available treatment technology. |
|
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
|
below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. |
|
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
|
drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a |
Treatment Technique |
disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. |
drinking water. |
|
|
Type of |
Year or |
Contaminant |
Contaminant |
Range |
(Unit of Measure) |
|
2020 |
Aluminum (ppm) |
|
||
|
2020 |
Bicarbonate (ppm) |
|
2020 |
Calcium (ppm) |
|
2020 |
Chloride (ppm) |
|
2020 |
Copper (ppm) |
|
2020 |
Magnesium (ppm) |
|
2020 |
Manganese (ppm) |
Secondary |
2020 |
Nickel (ppm) |
|
|
|
and Other |
2020 |
Sodium (ppm) |
Constituents |
||
not |
|
|
Regulated |
2020 |
Sulfate (ppm) |
|
||
|
2020 |
Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 |
|
(ppm) |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Total Dissolved Solids |
|
(ppm) |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Total Hardness as CaCO3 |
|
(ppm) |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Conductivity |
|
(uhmos/cm) |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Potassium (mg/L) |
|
2020 |
Lead (mg/L) |
|
2020 |
Atrazine (ppb) |
|
|
|
Average |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Secondary |
Level |
Level |
Level |
Limit |
0.0316 |
<0.005 |
0.058 |
0.05 |
116 |
102 |
142 |
na |
66.9 |
50.2 |
100 |
na |
148 |
113 |
217 |
300 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
0.0016 |
1.0 |
25.4 |
15.6 |
44.9 |
na |
0.0081 |
<0.001 |
0.017 |
0.05 |
0.0017 |
<0.001 |
0.0039 |
na |
89.5 |
72.4 |
122 |
na |
123 |
75.9 |
216 |
300 |
119 |
102 |
149 |
na |
544 |
409 |
810 |
1000 |
272 |
190 |
435 |
na |
971 |
752 |
1400 |
na |
8.07 |
7.96 |
8.24 |
na |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
15 |
<0.1 |
<0.1 |
0.1 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Source of Contaminant
Naturally present in environment
Corrosion of carbonate rocks such as limestone
Naturally present in environment
Naturally present in environment.
Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion from natural deposits; leaching from
wood preservatives
Naturally present in environment Naturally present in environment Erosion of natural deposits.
Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity
Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity
Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts
Total dissolved mineral constituents in water
Naturally occurring calcium
Naturally present in environment
Naturally present in environment
Corrosion of household plumbing, erosion from natural deposits; leaching from
wood preservatives Agricultural
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS: |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal |
Action Level |
disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do |
treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow |
not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
Maximum Contaminant Level |
|
in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using |
|
best available treatment technology. |
|
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
|
water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin |
|
of safety. |
water. |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
|
allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a |
water. |
disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. |
Treatment Technique |
|
substance in drinking water. |
|
|
Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule 4 (UCMR 4)
The UCMR program was developed in coordination with the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). The CCL is a list of contaminants that are not regulated by the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, are known or anticipated to occur at public water systems and may warrant regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Data collected through UCMR are stored in the National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) to support analysis and review of contaminant occurrence, to guide the CCL selection process and to support the Administrator's determination of whether to regulate a contaminant in the interest of protecting public health.
Contaminant |
Year or |
|
Level |
|
MCL |
MCLG |
Unit of |
Source of Contamination |
|
Range |
Average |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Measure |
|||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
Manganese |
2020 |
14.25 |
4.4 |
31.4 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Naturally present in environment. |
|
Bromide |
2020 |
0.622 |
0.367 |
0.862 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Naturally present in environment. |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
2020 |
5.65 |
5.01 |
6.33 |
N/A |
N/A |
mg/L |
Naturally present in environment. |
|
Monochloroacetic acid |
2020 |
6.11 |
4.72 |
7.82 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Monobromoacetic acid |
2020 |
0.79 |
<0.5 |
1.21 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Dichloroacetic acid |
2020 |
1.34 |
0.3 |
2.45 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Trichloroacetic acid |
2020 |
12.54 |
5.86 |
17.4 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Chlorodibromoacetic acid |
2020 |
2.25 |
1.46 |
3.23 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Bromochloro acetic acid |
2020 |
1.23 |
<0.3 |
2.04 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Bromodichloroacetic acid |
2020 |
1.07 |
<2.00 |
9.45 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Dibromoacetic acid |
2020 |
1.93 |
<2.00 |
5.5 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
Tribromoacetic acid |
2020 |
0.24 |
<0.5 |
0.96 |
N/A |
N/A |
ug/L |
Byproduct of drinking water disinfection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS: |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal |
Action Level |
disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do |
treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow |
not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. |
Maximum Contaminant Level |
|
in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using |
|
best available treatment technology. |
|
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal |
|
water below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs allow for a margin |
|
of safety. |
water. |
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level |
|
allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a |
water. |
disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. |
Treatment Technique |
|
substance in drinking water. |
|
|
WATER QUALITY REPORT
JANUARY-DECEMBER 2020 WATER QUALITY REPORT
Through vigilant oversight, the City of Abilene Water Utilities Department is dedicated to providing
This report is a summary of the quality of the water we provide our customers. The analysis was made by using the data from the most recent
If you would like more information about Abilene’s water quality, water assessments and protection efforts, please call the City of Abilene’s Environmental Laboratory at (325)
En Espanol: Este informe incluye información importante sobre el agua potable. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios sobre éste informe en español, favor de llamar al tel. (325)
A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for your drinking water sources is currently being updated by the TCEQ. This information describes the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact with your drinking water based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment will allow us to focus our source water protection strategies. Some of this source water assessment information will
be available later this year on Texas Drinking Water Watch at https://dww2.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/
SAVEABILENEWATER.COM 6
WATER QUALITY REPORT
CONTAMINANTS AND
CONSTITUENTS
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As the water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves
Contaminants that may be present in source water:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
-
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be
naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. - Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm runoff, and residential uses.
-
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also, come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems. -
Radioactive contaminants, which can be
naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
All drinking water may contain contaminants. When drinking water meets federal standards there may not be any health based benefits to purchasing bottled water or point of use devices. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’S Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)
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WATER QUALITY REPORT
CONTAMINANTS AND CONSTITUENTS (CONTINUED)
SECONDARY CONSTITUENTS
Many constituents (such as calcium, sodium, or iron) which are often found in drinking water can cause taste, color, and odor problems. The taste and odor constituents are called secondary constituents and are regulated by the State of Texas, not by the EPA. These constituents are not causes for health concern.
Lead can be harmful. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. This water supply is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead testing, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)
WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
Abilene’s water comes from surface water sources.
- Lake Fort Phantom Hill in North Abilene
- Hubbard Creek Lake between Albany and Breckenridge
- Lake O.H. Ivie near Ballinger
- Lake Abilene (reserve source of water)
- Lake Kirby in South Abilene, reserved for landscape irrigation
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WATER QUALITY REPORT
SPECIAL NOTICE FOR ELDERLY, INFANTS, CANCER PATIENTS, PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS OR OTHER IMMUNE PROBLEMS:
You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly or
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES
The City of Abilene Water Utilities Department is governed by the Abilene City Council, which meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 8:30 a.m. in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 555 Walnut. You may also contact the Department Director at (325)
City of Abilene Water Utilities Department 555 Walnut St., P.O. Box 60
Abilene, TX 79604
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
to learn more about water conservation in Abilene, including the Stage we are currently in and watering restrictions it requires.
WWW.SAVEABILENEWATER.COM
WWW.PONDERTHESQUANDER.COM
SAVEABILENEWATER.COM 9
Contaminants
City of Abilene
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 123886
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 33
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chlorite
- Chloroform
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- Aluminum
- Atrazine
- Barium
- Bromochloroacetic acid
- Chlorate
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Cyanide
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Hexadecanoic acid
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Selenium
- Strontium
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Uranium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
A recent survey of the residents of the town of Abilene, Texas, found that a great number of them did not even know what "Tap Water" meant. This fact is rather surprising, since there are very few public institutions in Abilene that is solely devoted to providing a clean and healthy drinking water supply for its citizens. One of the best ways of ensuring that you are well aware of the water quality in your city or town is by getting the help of a certified public health specialist.
If you are living in Abilene, Texas, it is important that you pay close attention to the tap water that you drink. If you notice any strange odors or contaminants that are causing trouble with your body, immediately contact your local public health office and make sure that it is safe for consumption. Most people who are affected by such health problems find that it can take some time to pinpoint exactly what they have been exposed to, so it is a good idea to have the information right