Harris County Water Quality
Harris County, Texas
Water Grade
B
Water Score
65.8
Violations
182
State Rank
#22
of 254 (1 = best)
EPA SDWIS Compliance
Drinking Water Quality
Water Quality Grade
B
Based on EPA compliance history and violation data
Water Score
65.8/100
Higher = better quality
Health Violations
182
Health-based violations
Violation Rate
3.1%
Systems with violations
Water Advisory: Harris County
Water Verdict
Harris County receives a fair water quality assessment with a grade of B and a score of 65.8 out of 100. The water supply meets baseline federal standards, but there may be periods of elevated contaminant levels or infrastructure concerns worth monitoring.
Violation Context
Harris County has recorded 182 health-based violations, indicating multiple instances where federal contaminant limits or treatment requirements were not met. At 3.1 violations per 1,000 residents, this rate is moderate and suggests recurring water quality challenges.
Consumer Guidance
Tap water in Harris County is generally safe to drink based on available data. Residents should still review their utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for transparency on detected contaminants. With 182 recorded health violations, staying informed about utility communications and boil-water notices is especially important. For long-term peace of mind, request your utility's latest Consumer Confidence Report and consider independent water testing if you have specific health concerns.
Regional Context
Harris County has better water quality than the average county in Texas. Its water score is 35.4 points higher than the state average, indicating stronger water system performance relative to neighboring counties.
Past 5 years
Water Quality Monitoring
Monitoring Sites
302
Active in the past 5 years
Measurements Recorded
126K
125,937 total readings
Most Measured
- Physical
- Nutrient
- Inorganics, Major, Non-metals
Categories measured most frequently
Data from the EPA Water Quality Portal (WQP), aggregating monitoring records from federal, state, and tribal sources. Each measurement represents a single sample analyzed for a specific characteristic (e.g., E. coli, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen).
Live USGS Streamgage
River & Stream Conditions
Current Discharge
1,700cfs
May 14, 6:15 PM UTC
vs Long-Term Average
Long-term average not yet available.
One representative streamgage (the one with the largest drainage area in the county). Many counties have multiple gauges — this view summarizes the primary one. The long-term mean is the full-record annual average; "% of typical" compares the latest reading against that average.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water quality in Harris County, Texas?
Are there any water violations in Harris County?
How much water-quality monitoring happens in Harris County?
What's happening with rivers in Harris County right now?
How does Harris County water compare to the Texas average?
Is tap water safe to drink in Harris County?
Why does Harris County have so many water violations?
How does Harris County rank for water quality in Texas?
Counties with Similar Water Quality
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.
Water-quality monitoring counts from the EPA Water Quality Portal (WQP) — federated USGS, EPA, and state agency sampling records over a rolling 5-year window.
Live streamflow from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) — continuous discharge measurements from the largest-drainage gauge in each county, compared against the full-record long-term annual mean.
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.