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Federal water data

County water report

Gaines County Water Report

Drinking-water compliance, watershed health, monitoring records, and river conditions for Gaines County, Texas.

Water grade

F

Water score

2.6

State rank

#234

of 254

Health violations

143

EPA SDWIS, 5-year lookback

Watershed impaired

Not reported

EPA ATTAINS coverage varies by state

Monitoring sites

N/A

EPA Water Quality Portal

Live streamflow

No gauge

Primary USGS station not mapped

Water at a glance

Key Water Indicators for Gaines County

EPA SDWIS

Safety Grade

F

Score: 2.6 / 100

EPA SDWIS

Active Violations

143

5-year health-based lookback

EPA ATTAINS

Watershed Health

Not reported

Coverage varies by state

USGS NWIS

Streamflow Snapshot

No gauge

Primary USGS gauge not mapped

EPA WQP

Monitoring Sites

N/A

Rolling 5-year window

Source: EPA SDWIS · Safe Drinking Water Information System

Drinking Water Compliance

Compliance grade

F

Based on EPA SDWIS compliance history.

Water score

Higher scores indicate cleaner recent compliance records.

2.6/100

Health violations

143

Health-based violations

Violations per 100K served

1415.4

Population-normalized SDWIS rate

Editorial analysis

Understanding Gaines County’s Water

Drinking Water Quality Overview

EPA SDWIS

Gaines County's water systems carry a failing grade, scoring 2.6 out of 100. Over the past five years, EPA SDWIS records 143 health-based violations — a pattern that public water utilities are required to disclose and correct.

Editorial advisory

What the data suggests for Gaines County

Water Verdict

Gaines County receives a poor water quality assessment with a grade of F and a score of 2.6 out of 100. The water supply has documented quality issues. Residents are strongly encouraged to use filtered or bottled water for drinking and to stay informed about utility improvement plans.

Violation Context

Gaines County has recorded 143 health-based violations, indicating multiple instances where federal contaminant limits or treatment requirements were not met. At 1415.4 violations per 100,000 people served, this rate is high and signals significant water quality management issues.

Consumer Guidance

Gaines County has a Grade F compliance record with 143 health-based violations — among the highest levels in the country. Gaines County's drinking-water compliance score is 2.6 out of 100. Residents are strongly advised to use a certified NSF 58 reverse-osmosis filter or bottled water for all drinking and cooking until violations are corrected. Contacting the Texas Department of Environmental Quality or Health can expedite utility compliance action.

Regional Context

Gaines County has poorer water quality than the average county in Texas. Its water score is 27.8 points lower than the state average, suggesting more challenges with contamination control or infrastructure than neighboring counties.

Advisory text summarizes county-level public records and is not a replacement for your utility's current Consumer Confidence Report or direct local notices.

Contaminants & Resources

Key issues flagged in Gaines County's water environment

Official EPA Resources for Gaines County

EPA How's My Waterway

Interactive watershed health data for Gaines County

EPA ECHO: Drinking Water Systems

Search water utilities and violation records for Gaines County

Consumer Confidence Reports (TX)

Annual water quality reports from utilities in Texas

Free tool

Estimate Your Water Costs

Water Cost Estimate

3

3 people  ·  ~225 gal/day

Annual Total

$558

Monthly

$47

Water Bill

$558/yr

Filter Cost

$0/yr

Safety Grade for Gaines County:F — Failing

High violation count or severe watershed conditions.

Estimates use the national average residential water rate ($0.0068/gal, EPA/AWWA 2023) and EPA WaterSense per-person consumption baseline (75 gal/person/day). Actual bills vary by utility, usage tier, and local infrastructure fees. For informational purposes only.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the water quality in Gaines County, Texas?
Gaines County, Texas has a drinking-water quality grade of F with a score of 2.6/100, based on EPA SDWIS compliance data. The county has 143 health-based drinking water violations over the past 5 years. Watershed health, monitoring records, and streamflow snapshots are reported separately on this page.
Are there any water violations in Gaines County?
Gaines County has 143 health-based drinking water violations recorded by the EPA over the past 5 years. Health-based violations indicate instances where contaminant levels exceeded EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Violations may have been resolved — check with your local water utility for current status.
How does Gaines County water compare to the Texas average?
Gaines County's SDWIS water quality score of 2.6/100 is lower than the Texas state average of 30.4. The average water quality grade across Texas is F, based on data from 254 counties with available SDWIS data.
Is tap water safe to drink in Gaines County?
Based on EPA SDWIS data, Gaines County has a water quality grade of F (2.6/100). This indicates below-average compliance with significant violations. Residents may want to consider home water filtration or independent testing. The grade speaks to the public water system, not the watershed — for watershed-level concerns, see the Watershed Health zone. For the most up-to-date information, contact your local water utility or review your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
Why does Gaines County have so many water violations?
Gaines County has 143 health-based drinking water violations on record from the EPA SDWIS database. A higher violation count can result from aging infrastructure, underfunded water utilities, agricultural runoff contamination, or industrial pollution. Counties with more water systems may also see more violations simply due to scale. Residents concerned about water quality should consider independent water testing and home filtration systems.
How does Gaines County rank for water quality in Texas?
Gaines County ranks #234 out of 254 counties in Texas by SDWIS water quality score (1 = best). With a score of 2.6/100, it falls in the bottom third of counties statewide. The ranking reflects EPA SDWIS compliance only — not watershed impairment, monitoring density, or streamflow, which are tracked separately on this page.

Counties with Similar Water Quality

Martin County

Texas

F

2.6

Water score

Hockley County

Texas

F

2.7

Water score

Knox County

Texas

F

2.5

Water score

Data Sources

Drinking-water compliance data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) via the ECHO enforcement database. Scores reflect compliance history and health-based violation counts.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not health, legal, or professional advice. For concerns about your specific water supply, contact your local water utility.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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