Travis County, Texas has about 1,363,767 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 89 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is City of Austin Water & Wastewater, serving about 1,115,323 people from surface water.
! 4 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 6 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 5.4 gpg (high confidence)
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Travis County water?
City of Austin Water & WastewaterMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
5.4 gpg(93 mg/L), moderately hard · range 70–126 mg/L
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 5.4 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 6,464 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 6 biggest of 89 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
City of Austin Water & Wastewater
TX2270001 · serves about 1,115,323 people · Surface water
! 1 health-based violation✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (6 types)
Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2022-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFBA: highest sample 8.4 ppt (4 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 6.2 ppt (6 of 12 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFBS: highest sample 5.1 ppt (4 of 12 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFOS: highest sample 4.8 ppt (2 of 12 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 4.1 ppt (4 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 3.3 ppt (2 of 12 samples); no federal limit
Lead 90th percentile: 1.1 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFNA: highest sample 25.2 ppt (4 of 8 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOS: highest sample 14.4 ppt (5 of 8 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFPeA: highest sample 13.3 ppt (7 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFBS: highest sample 9.7 ppt (6 of 8 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFHxA: highest sample 9.3 ppt (7 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFBA: highest sample 8.1 ppt (7 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 7.2 ppt (8 of 8 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOA: highest sample 6.3 ppt (4 of 8 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHpA: highest sample 4.9 ppt (4 of 8 samples); no federal limit
PFUnA: highest sample 2.7 ppt (4 of 8 samples); no federal limit
Lead 90th percentile: 1.4 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFNA: highest sample 24.3 ppt (3 of 20 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOS: highest sample 12.4 ppt (7 of 20 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBS: highest sample 10 ppt (8 of 20 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFPeA: highest sample 9.1 ppt (7 of 20 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 8.7 ppt (4 of 20 samples); no federal limit
PFBA: highest sample 7.4 ppt (3 of 20 samples); no federal limit
PFHxS: highest sample 7 ppt (7 of 20 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFOA: highest sample 5.9 ppt (1 of 20 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHpA: highest sample 4.3 ppt (1 of 20 samples); no federal limit
PFUnA: highest sample 2.7 ppt (1 of 20 samples); no federal limit
TX2270161 · serves about 21,231 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (6 types)
Lead 90th percentile: 1.9 ppb (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFBS: highest sample 9.2 ppt (8 of 10 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFOS: highest sample 7.5 ppt (6 of 10 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFHxS: highest sample 6.5 ppt (8 of 10 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFPeA: highest sample 5.9 ppt (8 of 10 samples); no federal limit
PFBA: highest sample 5.7 ppt (4 of 10 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 3.9 ppt (4 of 10 samples); no federal limit
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Travis County water
Is tap water in Travis County safe to drink?
4 of the 6 largest systems here have at least one health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021 (see each system below for status). City of Austin Water & Wastewater's most recent lead 90th percentile was below the lab detection limit (2022), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Travis County?
City of Austin Water & Wastewater reports about 5.4 grains per gallon (93 mg/L), which is moderately hard. For a 3-person home at 5.4 gpg, our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Travis County water?
6 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 8 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Travis County?
Most homes are served by City of Austin Water & Wastewater or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.