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Is Lubbock Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, July 21, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Lubbock?

Yes, Lubbock's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Lubbock 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, the city's water provider website, or Lubbock's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Lubbock's water utility, Lubbock Public Water System, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Lubbock was resolved on July 31, 2018. This assessment is based on the Lubbock Public Water System 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 Lubbock Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Lubbock 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 Lubbock's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Lubbock Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Lubbock Public Water System for Lubbock in Texas. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From July 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018, Lubbock had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: Chlorite, Chlorine dioxide.

Is there Lead in Lubbock Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Lubbock water system, Lubbock Public Water System, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0031 mg/L of lead in Lubbock water. This is 20.7% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Lubbock contained more lead.

While Lubbock water testing may have found 0.0031 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 Lubbock 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 - Reese Air Force Base - near Lubbock 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 Lubbock 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.

Lubbock 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
07/01/2018 - 07/31/2018 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) Chlorite (1009) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210)
07/01/2018 - 07/31/2018 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) Chlorine dioxide (1008) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210)

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

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
show details
Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
show details
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.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
show details
Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Lubbock Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT LUBBOCK CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Lubbock water provider, Lubbock Public Water System, please use the information below.
By Mail: PO BOX 2000
LUBBOCK, TX, 79408-2000
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR LUBBOCK PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Lubbock Public Water System account to pay their Lubbock water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Lubbock Public Water System 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 Lubbock water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Lubbock 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.

HOW TO START & STOP LUBBOCK WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Lubbock means you will often need to put the water in your name with Lubbock Public Water System. 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.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Lubbock means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Lubbock Public Water System. 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.

Stop Service Form

Is Lubbock Tap Water Safe to Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$0.88 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Lubbock tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 34% Low
  • Water Pollution 34% Low
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 66% High
  • Water Quality 66% High

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Lubbock, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Lubbock 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 Lubbock's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

WATER QUALITY REPORT

2020

Delivering Safe, Clean Water

The Water Department is committed to delivering safe, clean water to its customers. Although the Department manages the city’s water and wastewater systems, the top priority is to disinfect and treat the water that is distributed throughout the City. The Department’s water treatment group includes 57 employees dedicated to producing water that meets or exceeds strict water quality standards set by

the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

NORTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT This plant was built in 1965 and treated 8.1 billion gallons of water in 2020 from Lake Meredith and the Roberts County Well Field through conventional treatment. The conventional treatment process uses sand, gravel, and coal ￿lters to remove small particles.

SOUTH WATER TREATMENT PLANT This plant was built in 2012 to treat water from Lake Alan Henry and deliver water to South Lubbock. It treated 2.7 billion gallons of water through membrane ￿lters in 2020.

BAILEY COUNTY WELL FIELD We pump water from the Ogallala aquifer and disinfect 2.5 billion gallons of water with chlorine near the well site. Then, the water is pumped to Lubbock and directly enters into the distribution system in Northwest Lubbock.

Water Treatment Process

TRANSPORTING SOURCE WATER

Water is transported from lakes and the Ogallala aquifer to the treatment plants.

DISINFECTION

Chlorine and ammonia are added to both ground and surface water to kill potentially harmful organisms before the water enters the treatment plant.

AERATION/COAGULATION

Raw surface water is aerated or mixed to release gases in the water. Coagulants are added to the water to cause particles to stick together when the water is gently mixed (known as ￿occulation), creating larger, heavier particles.

FLOCCULATION/SEDIMENTATION

When the surface water is gently mixed ￿oc is created. These particles settle to the bottom of sedimentation tanks.

FILTRATION

Surface water ￿lters consist of coal, sand, and gravel layers, or membrane used to remove smaller particles still remaining in the water.

SECONDARY DISINFECTION

Ammonia is added just before the treated ground or surface water leaves the plant to create chloramine. Chloramine maintains the disinfection in the distribution system.

DISTRIBUTION

Treated water is sent to Lubbock’s homes and businesses for usage.

Important

Health

Information

Information about your drinking water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

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 e￿ects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

  • Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runo￿, 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 stormwater runo￿, 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 stormwater runo￿, and septic systems.
  • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Contaminants may be found in drinking water that may cause taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact the system's business o￿ce.

Lead

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. We are responsible for providing high-quality drinking water, but we 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 ￿ushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 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 in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Arsenic

While your drinking water meets EPA's standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. EPA's standard balances the current understanding of arsenic's possible health e￿ects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. EPA continues to research the health e￿ects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health e￿ects such as skin damage and circulatory problems.

Nitrate

Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

Special information for people with immune system de￿ciencies

You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; persons who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care providers. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

7.

Drinking Water Analysis

CONTAMINANT

Year of Range

Average

Minimum

Maximum

MCL

 

MCLG

 

Unit of

Contaminant Sources

Violaon

 

Level

Level

Level

 

 

 

Measure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTANCES REGULATED AT THE TREATMENT PLANT

 

 

 

BETA/PHOTON EMITTERS

2017

 

 

6.2

4.3

8.1

 

50*

 

0

 

pCi/L

Decay of natural and man-made deposits

NO

 

ALPHA EMITTERS

2017

 

 

4.5

2

7

 

15

 

0

 

pCi/L

Erosion of natural deposits

NO

 

URANIUM

2017

 

 

4.2

3.5

4.9

 

30

 

0

 

ppb

Erosion of natural deposits

NO

 

ARSENIC

2020

 

 

1.9

1.8

2

 

10

 

0

 

ppb

Erosion of natural deposits; runofrom orchards

NO

 

BARIUM

2020

 

 

0.16

0.12

0.19

 

2

 

2

 

ppb

Erosion of natural deposits

NO

 

CHROMIUM

2020

 

 

2.7

1.7

3.7

 

100

 

100

 

ppb

Erosion of natural deposits

NO

 

CYANIDE

2020

 

 

121.4

77.3

187

 

200

 

200

 

ppb

Discharge from steel/metal, plasc, and ferlizer factories

NO

 

FLUORIDE

2020

 

 

1.01

0.655

1.36

 

4

 

4

 

ppm

Erosion of natural deposits

NO

 

NITRATE

2020

 

 

0.871

0.134

1.41

 

10

 

10

 

ppm

Ferlizer runo, sepc tank leachate, sewage, erosion

NO

 

TURBIDITY

2020

 

 

0.032

0.02

0.06

 

***% < 0.3 (TT)

 

0

 

NTU

Soil runo

NO

 

TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON

2020

 

 

1.38

0.92

1.68

 

TT

 

TT

 

ppm

Naturally present in environment

NO

 

CHLORAMINES

2020

 

 

3.76

3.48

3.68

 

MRDLG=4.0

 

MRDLG=4.0

 

ppm

Disinfectant used to control microbes

NO

 

CHLORITE

2020

 

 

0.285

0.023

0.47

 

1

 

0.8

 

ppm

By- product of drinking water disinfecon

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGULATED IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

 

 

 

TOTAL TRIHALOMETHANES

2020

 

 

14.2

6.16

26.8 ^

 

80

 

N/A

 

ppb

By- product of drinking water chlorinaon

NO

 

HALOACETIC ACIDS (5)

2020

 

 

8.57

3.9

15 ^

 

60

 

N/A

 

ppb

By- product of drinking water chlorinaon

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5% of monthly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

****Total Coliform

2020

 

 

0

0

0

 

samples are

 

0

 

****P/A

Naturally present in environment

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

posive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGULATED AT THE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSTOMER'S TAP

 

 

 

 

LEAD (90th percenle)

2019

 

 

N/A

0

41

 

15 AL

 

0

 

ppb

Natural deposit erosion; plumbing system corrosion

NO

 

Out of 103 samples collected, 99 were below 14 ppb, 100 were below the Ac�on Level(AL) of 15ppb, and 3 exceeded the AL at 20,31, and 41 ppb.

 

 

 

 

 

COPPER (90th percenle)

2019

 

 

0.087

0.013

0.16

 

1.3 AL

 

0

 

ppm

Natural deposit erosion; plumbing system corrosion

NO

 

Out of the 100 sites collected, all were below the acon level (AL) or 1.3 ppm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL MONITORING

 

 

 

 

ALUMINUM

2020

 

 

0.098

0.026

0.17

 

0.05-0.2^^

 

N/A

 

ppm

Water Treatment Chemical

N/A

 

CHLORIDE

2020

 

 

193.1

16.2

286

 

300 ^^

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

SULFATE

2020

 

 

101

121

151

 

300 ^^

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS

2020

 

 

649

359

800

 

1000^^

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

AMMONIA

2020

 

 

0.142

0.096

0.192

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Water Treatment Chemical

N/A

 

CALCIUM

2020

 

 

43.5

39.0

51.3

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

MAGNESIUM

2020

 

 

30.9

28.6

33.2

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

POTASSIUM

2020

 

 

7.42

6.93

7.66

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

SODIUM

2020

 

 

216

188

261

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

HARDNESS

2020

 

 

240

215

264

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

CONDUCTANCE

2020

 

 

1188

575

1530

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

µmho/cm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

TOTAL ALKALINITY

2020

 

 

191

176

226

 

Not Regulated

 

N/A

 

ppm

Naturally occurring

N/A

 

The state allows us to monitor for some

 

*The MCL for beta/photon emitters is 4 mrem/year. The USEPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta/photon emitters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Running Annual Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

substances less than once per year because

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^Highest Locational Running Annual Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the concentrations of these substances do not

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^Secondary Constituent Levels set by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.

 

 

 

 

change frequently. Some of our data, though

 

 

 

 

 

 

***Note: 100% of plant turbidity meets the <0.3 NTU MCL

 

 

 

 

 

 

representative, are more than one year old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

****Results reported as (Presence/Absence). Presence is de￿ned as total coliforms found (positive). Absence is de￿ned as no total coliforms found (negative).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For More Information

Texas Drinking Water Watch: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/DWW

Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791

City of Lubbock Water Treatment Lab: (806) 775-2614

Abbreviations & De￿nitions

Action Level (AL)- The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

Action Level Goal (ALG)- The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.

Average (Avg)- Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples.

Level 1 assessment- A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.

Level 2 assessment- A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occasions.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)- The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)- The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL)- The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)- The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not re￿ect the bene￿ts of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

MFL- Million Fibers per Liter, a measure of asbestos

mrem- Millirems per year, a measure of radiation absorbed by the body na- Not applicable

NTU- Nephelometric Turbidity Units, a measurement of turbidity pCi/L- Picocuries per Liter, a measurement of radioactivity

ppb- Parts per billion or micrograms per liter ppm- Parts per million or milligrams per liter ppq- Parts per quadrillion or picograms per liter ppt- Parts per trillion or nanograms per liter

Treatment Technique (TT)- A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Turbidity- A measurement of the cloudiness of the water caused by suspended particles. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality and the e￿ectiveness of our ￿ltration system and disinfectants.

umho- micromhos/cm

Our Water

Supply

Lubbock’s water supply comes from diverse and resilient sources. Groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer is supplied by Roberts County Well Field and Bailey County Well Field, which accounts for 65% of Lubbock’s water usage. Surface water is supplied by Lake Alan Henry and Lake Meredith, which accounts for 35% of water usage.

 

Lake

Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) manages and operates Lake

 

Meredith (LM), a reservoir formed by Sanford Dam on the Canadian River at

 

Sanford, Texas. LM is approximately 160 miles north of Lubbock. CRMWA has

 

Meredith

2021. In 2019, Lubbock used approximately 2.07 billion gallons of water from LM.

 

 

 

supplied water from LM to Lubbock since the 1960s. LM is 36% full as of April

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bailey

 

 

the 1950s. The City owns over 80,000 acres of water rights in BCWF.

 

 

 

 

The City has owned and operated the Bailey County Well Field (BCWF) since

County

 

 

Currently, there are 175 active wells and the average well production

 

 

northwest of Lubbock in Bailey and Lamb Counties. In 2020, Lubbock used

 

 

 

 

capacity is 200 gallons per minute. BCWF is located approximately 75 miles

Well Field

 

 

approximately 2.51 billion gallons of water from this well ￿eld.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Alan

The City owns and operates Lake Alan Henry (LAH), a reservoir

formed by Montford Dam on the Double Mountain Fork of the

Brazos River. LAH is approximately 65 miles southeast of Lubbock

in Garza County, Texas. The City began using water from LAH in

Henry

 

August 2012. LAH is 86% full as of April 2021. In 2020, Lubbock

 

used approximately 2.65 billion gallons of water from LAH.

Roberts County

 

 

 

in Roberts County, Texas. RCWF is located approximately 150 miles

 

 

 

 

CRMWA manages and operates Roberts County Well Field (RCWF)

Well Field

to the northeast of Lubbock. In 2020, Lubbock used approximately

 

6.01 billion gallons of water from this well ￿eld.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality completed an assessment of your source water, and results indicate that some of our sources are susceptible to certain contaminants. The sampling requirements for your water system is based on this susceptibility and previous sample data. Any detections of these contaminants will be found in this Consumer Con￿dence Report. For more information on source water assessments and protection e￿orts at our system contact Michael Lowe at (806) 775-2616.

Protecting Surface Water Supplies

High quality tap water starts with healthy lakes and aquifers. We strive to bring the citizens of Lubbock high-quality drinking water every day. Approximately 20% of the water brought to Lubbock homes is from Lake Alan Henry, and 15% is from Lake Meredith. Protecting drinking water sources and recreational lakes such as Bu￿alo Springs Lake, Ransom Canyon, and the Jim Bertram Lake System within the Lubbock area keeps our community clean and healthy.

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

Invasive species travel from lake to lake on your boat, trailer and gear. These invasive species harm native plants, ￿sh, and animals and cost Texas taxpayers millions of dollars. Protect the lakes you love. Clean, drain and dry your boats and accessories before traveling from lake to lake. Keep boating, ￿shing, and swimming fun for everyone.

ZEBRA MUSSELS

Small, freshwater mussels that multiply rapidly and attach in clusters that damage water infrastructure.

 

 

Lake Meredith

Roberts County

 

i a n

 

Ca n a d

R i v e r

Well Field

 

Amarillo

P

r a

i r i

e

D o g

T

o w n

 

o

r k

 

 

 

F

 

e d

R i v e r

 

 

 

 

 

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Bailey County

Plainview

Well Field

GIANT SALVINIA

A highly invasive aquatic fern that doubles in size and acreage in less than a week, causing dense mats.

WATER HYACINTH

A non-rooted ￿owering aquatic plant that can cover a lake’s surface and uses water at an alarmingly high rate.

LEGEND

Lubbock Lake Source

Lubbock Aquifer Source

Other Lakes & Rivers

Water Sheds

White Riv e r

Lubbock Buffalo

 

Spring

North Fork

Lake

Double Mountain

Ransom

Fork of the

Brazos River

Canyon

 

Post

Lake Alan

Henry

TOXIC GOLDEN ALGAE

A single-celled organism that lives in water. When it blooms, this alga can produce toxins that cause ￿sh kills.

QUAGGA MUSSELS

Small, freshwater mussels that clog water intake structures, docks, buoys, and boat hulls in clusters.

HYDRILLA

A freshwater, rooted plant that can form monospeci￿c stands, causing dense mats at lake surfaces.

LEARN MORE AT: www.mylubbock.us/lubbocklakes

Lake Turn Over

Lakes like Lake Meredith and Lake Alan Henry occasionally go through the process of lake turnover. Lake turnover is the seasonal movement of water in a lake, turning over from top to bottom.

During the fall, the warm surface water begins to cool. As the water cools, it becomes denser, causing it to sink. This dense water forces the water on the bottom of the lake to rise, causing turnover. The opposite happens in the spring, causing lakes to turn over every fall and spring.

Often odor, taste, and smell are a￿ected by geosmins during lake turnover, causing water to have a slight earthy smell or taste. Although this may not be palatable, it is a completely safe and normal cycle all deep lakes experience.

Conserving & Securing

Our Water

In the last 20 years, Lubbock has saved 73 billion gallons of water. We have accomplished this through our conservation rate structure, educational e￿orts, and water use ordinances such as our conservation plan and irrigation restrictions. These measures and our customer’s e￿orts have reduced the demand on our current water supplies and delayed expensive new water supply projects saving our customer's money.

Our Water Supply Planning Goals

  • Provide a road map to develop and implement cost-e￿ective and sustainable water supplies over the next 100 years
  • Diversify the City’s water supply portfolio to minimize risk associated with variable climatic conditions
  • Emphasize conservation e￿orts to delay expensive water supply projects

We reduced our water usage by 34%, saving 73 billion gallons of water since 2000. By helping create a water conservation culture in Lubbock, you have been instrumental in making this happen.

￿￿￿ ￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿

￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿ ￿￿￿￿￿￿

￿￿￿￿￿￿

￿￿￿￿￿￿￿ ￿￿

Gallons per person per day is a great way to measure our conservation e￿orts. Even with a population that continues to grow each year, our residential customers are using only 82 gallons of water per person each day for all of their cleaning and consumption needs.

Securing Our Water System

The City of Lubbock takes security of our water system seriously. In 2020, we completed an updated risk and resiliency assessment and a water system emergency response plan. These documents assist us in ensuring that our water system is secure. The assessment included evaluation of risk and threats associated with chemical spills into water supplies, vulnerabilities between our water sources and your tap, cybersecurity, natural hazards, and terrorism acts. Based on this assessment, we will continue to implement strategies that reduce security risks.

Our emergency response plan covers situations such as water contamination, cyber-attacks, power outages, dam failures, droughts, terrorist threats, natural disasters, and chemical spills.

Water Loss

The City’s 2020 water loss audit submitted to the Texas Water Development Board, indicates that our system lost an estimated 1.2 billion gallons of water out of the 13.3 billion gallons that were delivered. This loss represents 25 gallons per connection per day. If you have any questions about the water loss audit, please call (806) 775-3513.

Contaminants


Lubbock Public Water System

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: 235398
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Surface water
  • Total: 30

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Arsenic
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Chlorite
  • Chloroform
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Nitrate
  • Nitrate and nitrite
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid
  • Uranium

Other Detected Contaminants

  • Aluminum
  • Antimony
  • Barium
  • Bromochloroacetic acid
  • Chlorate
  • Chromium (total)
  • Cyanide
  • Dibromoacetic acid
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Monobromoacetic acid
  • Monochloroacetic acid
  • Selenium
  • Strontium
  • 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

Lubbock Tap Water

Lubbock, Texas, known for its hot summers and dry winters, has some of the best tap water available in the world. To keep this quality, the city must purify the water to the degree that it doesn’t leach toxins back into the groundwater supply. This is done by chlorination, which uses chlorine to kill any microorganisms and prevents salt residue in the treated water. If a public provider services you, the treatment facility may include a reverse osmosis step, which filters out larger water particles. This also ensures that you don’t consume any impurities from the tap water. The measures included in the purification process are designed to make Lubbock tap water as safe as possible.

If you want purer water, then you should look into a filtration system for your home. Several systems on the market are designed to remove most contaminants from Lubbock tap water, including several chemicals and herbicides that can linger in the groundwater. The most straightforward systems simply require that you turn the water off before you use it. Still, more advanced systems will allow you to select which contaminants to remove. Some of the most common pollutants are chlorine, which is often found in larger cities’ water supplies, and lead, which can be present in even “well water.” A multi-stage filtration system will remove all of these harmful substances from the water, leaving you with healthy, tasty drinking water. Suppose you choose to filter the water yourself. In that case, there are many options, from hand-held showerheads to high-tech kitchen countertop units that will remove almost every chemical from your water.

Unfortunately, if a city service provider services you, you are subject to the same treatment as everyone else. You are expected to pay the total cost of the purification process, regardless of whether or not you end up using the system. However, suppose you install a self-filtering system. In that case, you won’t have to worry about spending money on water treatment when you don’t need to. Instead, you can simply wait for your water to be filtered at the last minute when you take a bath or use the bathroom. After that, you will have pure filtered water that will feel better than water from other sources that hasn’t been treated.

Lubbock Drinking Water

The city of Lubbock, Texas, is well known for its excellent outdoor recreation activities, and drinking water safety is one activity. That being said, you might not be aware that there are several contaminants in your drinking water, especially if you live along the Guadalupe River or in the northern parts of Lubbock. There is a good reason the drinking water of this area is naturally healthy, unlike most cities’ water. To help you get a handle on some of these impurities, you can take advantage of a few websites that will give you some in-depth information about what you’re drinking.

You should also keep in mind that one of the best ways to be safe with your drinking water safety is to use a water purification system. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have one of these handy at home, and that’s okay. However, once you start to notice how unhealthy your drinking water looks, you’ll be glad that you finally got around to getting a cleaner. It will eliminate any harmful impurities and also reduce any odors.

Remember, you can take precautions when it comes to your Lubbock drinking water safety. First, you should remember to never go anywhere without your protective gear. Besides, you should consider purchasing a home filtration system to reduce what you put into your body, such as the impurities found in most tap water. Finally, make sure to buy your drinking water safety filter online, so you don’t have to pay too much for it. It’s a small investment that will save you a lot of trouble.

Lubbock Water

Lubbock, Texas, is a beautiful city located in the Texas panhandle. It is named after a river that runs through the city and, most importantly, the Lubbock Texas Memorial River. This natural river was one of the world’s great wonders when the Spanish first discovered it in the 15th century. Today it still plays a significant role in the economy of the state.

Because of the importance of this natural resource, Lubbock’s city continually works hard to preserve the integrity and quality of the water as much as possible. They have a water treatment facility that cleans the water and monitors its chemical balance to ensure that harmful organisms are not present. In addition to water treatment plants, several natural bodies of water flow into the city of Lubbock. These water bodies include Cedar Creek, Black River, Lubbock River, spring Lubbock, and Lake Lanier.

Lubbock’s city saves money by having several different types of water-based businesses prosper in the city. There is a large concentration of chemical processing plants in the area that saves both money and chemicals. It is also one of the few cities in the United States that uses an unlimited amount of non-potable water for drinking, bathing, and another outdoor water usage. All of these efforts help maintain the natural balance of the land and supply a healthy and vibrant environment for the surrounding communities.

Lubbock Water Sources

The Lubbock area is rich in natural resources, and quite a few can be harnessed through water sources. Lubbock’s city is a mere thirty-two square miles in size. Still, it is a thriving community of many townships and subdivisions. With a population of nearly seven hundred thousand, it is the second-largest community in Comal County, Texas, and one of the most densely populated ones in all of Texas. When you visit Lubbock, you will notice that the city sprawls out into the horizon like a great sea of asphalt. It’s no surprise that Lubbock has seen such growth and success over the past couple of decades, as the city has been making the necessary changes to attract more people and grow the local economy to meet its growing population’s needs.

There is no shortage of Lubbock water sources. The city has over two hundred different lakes, and many of them are fished by individual anglers or small boat clubs. Many residents enjoy the Lubbock lakes for their recreation, especially the Lubbock Lake, a six-mile-long lake located on the city’s northwest side. Suppose you have always wanted to fish in a lake in Lubbock. In that case, you will be glad to know that there are many charter services available to take you out on the water with your own guide, sometimes for as little as fifteen dollars per hour. The Lubbock lake has over nine acres of lakefront property and is surrounded by many beautiful homes.

Of course, not all Lubbock waterfalls are fished by individual anglers or boats. There are also many public parks, recreation areas, and other places that provide Lubbock with its natural water supply. For instance, the Lubbock Dam is a massive construction that took fifteen years to construct and use. However, the structure is a source of both hydroelectricity and providing much-needed flood control. The Lubbock Dam Authority oversees all construction, while the City of Lubbock owns the land it sits on.

Lubbock Water Quality

You must know the importance of having Lubbock water for any home that you may be considering. Having clean, purified water in your home can provide you with peace of mind. It gives you a little bit more security when you are cooking or doing other household activities. There are so many different contaminants that could end up in your drinking water. If it’s not clean enough, then you could end up contracting some type of illness from it.

One of the best ways to ensure that the water you are using at home is good is to have it tested by a professional. Because Lubbock’s city is so large, they have access to testing equipment that can check for bacteria, viruses, cysts, etc. That is the best way to make sure that you don’t end up with contaminated water and that you’re consuming safe, healthy water. If you go to the city and buy bottled water, then you will still be able to check the quality yourself and be assured that it was safe to consume.

Even if Lubbock’s city does not test its water because the cost is so low, there are quite a few different businesses out there that are dedicated to providing you with the best water quality available. If you want the best, you should always choose to buy from a company that offers indoor and outdoor water filtration systems. Once you’ve settled on one business, then you can feel confident that you are choosing the right products for your home. You will also be able to trust that they have certified technicians available to help you every step of the way to ensure that you have the best water possible.

Lubbock Water Content

Lubbock, Texas, has long been a popular tourist destination due to its pleasant and inviting climate and the activities and attractions that the city offers. A visit to Lubbock, for example, will prove that the laid-back atmosphere is far from a myth as this city is home to a wide variety of outdoor activities and events that draw locals and tourists from all around the world. Lubbock is well-known for providing excellent supplies of fresh and clean drinking water when it comes to water. The city has its own private city water system, which provides the citizens with bottled water and the city’s tap water. Another great advantage of this type of water source is that you don’t have to pay city water tax or carry gallons of bottled water everywhere you go, thus making Lubbock water an indeed “free” water source!

To take advantage of the city water supply, all you need to do is purchase a tap water meter and then use it to record the amount of water that goes through your tap each time you drink from your tap. When it comes to city water, it’s essential to install a good water meter to determine your water quality. There are many water meters available in the market. Still, the best ones come from the Metric Water Flow Rate (MWF) brand, which has an accurate and reliable measurement device that doesn’t require batteries to keep working and measure water flow. You can quickly get these water meters from Lubbock’s supplier. In addition to this, it’s also essential to have the right equipment when installing a new water meter so that you can determine the correct measurement.

Another reason why it is essential to monitor your city’s water supply is the issue of contamination. City water comes from different sources such as wells, springs, and reservoirs, which means contaminants can be quickly introduced into the water supply. Unfortunately, this contamination can be pretty challenging to remove from the water. It can even lead to serious health problems if left unnoticed. Therefore, it is imperative to have a professional water testing company to do the job for you to determine the quality of your city’s water. They can analyze the water and determine the kind of contaminants you might encounter on your water supply.

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