Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Beaumont?
Yes, Beaumont's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Beaumont 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, Beaumont's water utility, City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept 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 Beaumont Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Beaumont 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 Beaumont's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Beaumont 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 Beaumont Water Utility Dept for Beaumont in Texas. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
For the compliance period beginning Dec. 30, 2015, Beaumont had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Lead Consumer Notice which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Lead and Copper Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Lead and Copper Rule.
Is there Lead in Beaumont Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Beaumont water system, City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0022 mg/L of lead in Beaumont water. This is 14.7% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Beaumont contained more lead.
While Beaumont water testing may have found 0.0022 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 Beaumont 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 no military bases near Beaumont 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 Beaumont 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.
Beaumont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/30/2015 - | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Lead Consumer Notice (66) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) | Lead and Copper Rule (5000) | Chemicals (300) | Lead and Copper Rule (350) |
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.
Beaumont Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | PO BOX 3827 BEAUMONT, TX, 77704-3827 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept account to pay their Beaumont water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept 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 Beaumont 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 Beaumont 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 Beaumont means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept. 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 Beaumont means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Beaumont Water Utility Dept. 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 Beaumont, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Beaumont 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 Beaumont's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
Presented By
City of Beaumont Water Utilites
Este reporte incluye información importante sobre el agua para tomar. Para asistencia en español, favor de llamar al teléfono (409)
PWS ID#: TX1230001
Quality First
Once again, we are pleased to present our annual water quality report covering all testing performed between January 1 and December 31, 2020. As in years past, we have dedicated ourselves to producing drinking water that meets all state and federal standards. We continually strive to adopt new methods for delivering the
opportunity to serve you and your family.
Water Conservation Tips
You can play a role in conserving water and saving your- self money in the process by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve
water. Here are a few tips:
- Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So, get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
- Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
- Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from an invisible toilet leak. Fix it and you can save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
-
Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and
water-using appliances. Then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a leak.
How Long Can I Store Drinking Water?
The disinfectant in drinking water will eventually dissipate, even in a closed container. If that container housed bac- teria prior to filling up with the tap water, the bacteria may continue to grow once the disinfectant has dissipated. Some experts believe that water can be stored up to six months before needing to be replaced. Refrigeration will help slow the
bacterial growth.
Public Meetings
The Water Utilities Department is part of the city govern- ment and follows not only federal and state regulations but also ordinances established by City Council. The City Council normally meets each Tuesday at City Hall, 801 Main Street, Beaumont, TX, at 1:30 p.m., or you may contact the Council Members at (409)
drinking water.
Where Does My Water Come From?
The City of Beaumont has two sources of water: (1) well water is pumped from the Chicot Aquifer at three dif- ferent well sites located in Hardin County, and (2) surface water from the Neches River. Well water is chloraminated before it is pumped to the city. Surface water receives a more complex treatment, including filtration and chloramination. The City of Beaumont inspects and analyzes both sources of water daily to ensure compliance with all federal and state requirements. The water plant is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give you the
water, please call 311.
Important Health Information
You may be more vulnerable than the general pop- ulation to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with ste-
roids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infec- tions. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or
to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
Questions? For questions about the information in this report, please contact Troy Pierce, Water Production Superintendent, at
-
880-3785, or John Pippins III, Water Utilities Designer Manager, at (409)785-4702.
Lead in Home Plumbing
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young chil- dren. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. This water supply is responsible for providing
or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Water Loss Audit
In the water loss audit submitted to the Texas Water Development Board during the year covered by this report, our system lost an estimated 2,046,434,346 gallons of water. If you have any questions about the water loss audit, please call
Water Utilities at (409)
Source Water Assessment
ASource Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is now available at our office. This plan is an assessment of the delineated area around our listed water sources through which contaminates, if present, could migrate and reach our source water. It also includes an inventory of potential sources of contamination within the delineated area, and a determination of the water supplies’ susceptibility to contamination by the identified
potential sources.
The results indicate that some of our sources are susceptible to certain contaminants. The sampling requirements for our water system are based on this susceptibility and previous sample data. Any detections of these contaminants will be found in this annual report. Anyone wishing to review the study may call (409)
Substances That Could Be in Water
To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. EPA prescribes regulations limiting the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses
a health risk.
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 can acquire naturally occurring minerals, in some cases, radioactive material; and substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Substances 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, or wildlife;
Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or may result from urban
Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban
Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or may be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
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 our business office. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
Test Results
Our water is monitored for many different kinds of substances on a very strict sampling schedule. And, the water we deliver must meet specific health standards. Here, we only show those substances that were
detected in our water (a complete list of all our analytical results is available upon request). Remember that detect- ing a substance does not mean the water is unsafe to drink; our goal is to keep all detects below their respective maximum allowed levels.
The State recommends monitoring for certain substances less than once per year because the concentrations of these substances do not change frequently. In these cases, the most recent sample data are included, along with the year in which the sample was taken.
The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month, and the system met all TOC removal requirements set.
We participated in the 4th stage of the U.S. EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR4) program by performing additional tests on our drinking water. UCMR4 sampling benefits the environment and public health by providing the U.S. EPA with data on the occurrence of contaminants suspected to be in drinking water, in order to determine if U.S. EPA needs to introduce new regulatory standards to improve drinking water quality. Unregulated contaminant monitoring data are available to the public, so please feel free to contact us if you are interested in obtaining that information. If you would like more information on the U.S. EPA’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
Definitions
90th %ile: The levels reported for lead and copper represent the 90th percentile of the total number of sites tested. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of our lead and copper detections.
AL (Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): 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.
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): 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.
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): 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
REGULATED SUBSTANCES
SUBSTANCE |
YEAR |
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
SAMPLED |
Barium (ppm) |
|
2020 |
|
Chlorine (ppm) |
2020 |
Combined Radium |
2017 |
(pCi/L) |
|
Cyanide (ppb) |
2020 |
E. coli (# positive |
2020 |
samples) |
|
Haloacetic Acids [HAAs] |
2020 |
(ppb) |
|
Nitrate (ppm) |
2020 |
TTHMs [Total |
2020 |
Trihalomethanes] (ppb) |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
2020 |
[TOC] (% removal) |
|
Turbidity2 (NTU) |
2020 |
Turbidity (lowest |
2020 |
monthly percent of |
|
samples meeting limit) |
|
MCL
[MRDL]
2
[4]
5
200
see footnote 1
60
10
80
TT
TT
-
= 95% of samples meet
the limit
MCLG |
AMOUNT |
[MRDLG] |
DETECTED |
2 |
0.043 |
- 3.12
0 |
1.5 |
200 |
70 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
19.1 |
10 |
0.11 |
NA |
28.1 |
NA |
47.6 |
NA |
0.41 |
NA |
99.46 |
RANGE
NA
NA
VIOLATION |
|
TYPICAL SOURCE |
No |
|
Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge |
|
||
|
|
from metal refineries; Erosion of natural |
|
|
deposits |
No |
|
Water additive used to control microbes |
No |
|
Erosion of natural deposits |
No |
|
Discharge from steel/metal factories; |
|
|
Discharge from plastic and fertilizer |
|
|
factories |
No |
|
Human and animal fecal waste |
No |
|
|
No |
|
Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from |
|
|
septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural |
|
|
deposits |
No |
|
|
No |
|
Naturally present in the environment |
No |
|
Soil runoff |
No |
|
Soil runoff |
|
|
|
contaminants.
MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
NA: Not applicable.
ND (Not detected): Indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.
NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units): Measurement of the clarity, or turbidity, of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.
pCi/L (picocuries per liter): A measure of radioactivity.
ppb (parts per billion): One part substance per billion parts water (or micrograms per liter).
ppm (parts per million): One part substance per million parts water (or milligrams per liter).
SCL (Secondary Contaminant Level): These standards are developed to protect aesthetic qualities of drinking water and are not health based.
- (Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Tap Water Samples Collected for Copper and Lead Analyses from Sample Sites throughout the Community
SUBSTANCE |
YEAR |
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
SAMPLED |
Copper (ppm) |
|
2018 |
|
Lead (ppb) |
2018 |
SECONDARY SUBSTANCES
AL
1.3
15
MCLG
1.3
0
AMOUNT
DETECTED
(90TH %ILE)
0.168
2.2
SITES ABOVE
AL/TOTAL
SITES
0/51
0/51
VIOLATION |
|
TYPICAL SOURCE |
No |
|
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits |
|
||
No |
|
Lead services lines; Corrosion of household plumbing systems, including fittings and fixtures; Erosion of natural deposits |
SUBSTANCE |
YEAR |
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
SAMPLED |
AMOUNT |
SCL MCLG DETECTED |
RANGE |
VIOLATION TYPICAL SOURCE |
Aluminum (ppb) |
2020 |
Chloride (ppm) |
2020 |
Copper (ppm) |
2020 |
Fluoride (ppm) |
2020 |
Manganese (ppb) |
2020 |
Sulfate (ppm) |
2020 |
Total Dissolved Solids |
2020 |
[TDS] (ppm) |
|
200 |
NA |
126 |
300 |
NA |
24 |
1.0 |
NA |
0.0029 |
2.0 |
NA |
0.43 |
50 |
NA |
26.4 |
300 |
NA |
58 |
1,000 |
NA |
253 |
|
|
|
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Erosion of natural deposits; Residual from some surface water treatment processes Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive, which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Leaching from natural deposits
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; Industrial wastes Runoff/leaching from natural deposits
UNREGULATED SUBSTANCES 3
SUBSTANCE
(UNIT OF MEASURE)
Bromide (ppm)
Bromodichloromethane (ppb)
Chlorodibromomethane (ppb)
Chloroform (ppb)
Germanium (ppb)
Manganese (ppb)
Nickel (ppm)
Sodium (ppm)
YEAR |
AMOUNT |
SAMPLED |
DETECTED |
2019 |
|
0.0529 |
|
2020 |
5.5 |
2020 |
4.3 |
2020 |
6.1 |
2019 |
0.3 |
2019 |
40.5 |
2020 |
0.0013 |
2020 |
37 |
|
|
RANGE
TYPICAL SOURCE
Naturally present in the environment
Nickel is a natural element of the earth’s crust; therefore, small amounts are found in food, water, soil, and air
Erosion of natural deposits
-
Routine and repeat samples are total coliform- positive and either is E.
coli-positive or system fails to take repeat samples following E. coli- positive routine sample or system fails to analyze totalcoliform-positive repeat sample for E. coli.
- Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. It is monitored because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the filtration system.
- Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
Contaminants
City of Beaumont Water Utility Department
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: 118129
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 30
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Aluminum
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Manganese
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- 2-Furancarboxyaldehyde
- Acetone
- Atrazine
- Barium
- Bromochloroacetic acid
- Bromoform
- Chlorate
- Chloromethane
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Chromium (total)
- Cyanide
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Hexadecanoic acid
- Molybdenum
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Strontium
- Toluene
- 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.