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Is Brownsville Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, July 26, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Brownsville?

Yes, Brownsville's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Brownsville 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 Brownsville's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Brownsville's water utility, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, 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 Brownsville Public Utilities Board 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 Brownsville Tap Water

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

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

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

Is there Lead in Brownsville Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Brownsville water system, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Brownsville water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Brownsville contained more lead.

While Brownsville water testing may have found 0.0 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 Brownsville 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 Brownsville 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 Brownsville 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.

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.

Brownsville Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT BROWNSVILLE CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Brownsville water provider, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, please use the information below.
By Mail: PO BOX 3270
BROWNSVILLE, TX, 78523-3270
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Brownsville Public Utilities Board account to pay their Brownsville water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Brownsville Public Utilities Board 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 Brownsville 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 Brownsville 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 BROWNSVILLE WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Brownsville means you will often need to put the water in your name with Brownsville Public Utilities Board. 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 Brownsville means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Brownsville Public Utilities Board. 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 Brownsville Tap Water Safe to Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$1.75 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Brownsville tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 50% Moderate
  • Water Pollution 75% High
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 50% Moderate
  • Water Quality 25% Low

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

Related FAQS

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

 

 

 

Southmost Regional Water Authority

 

 

Microbiological Contaminants (Contaminants Detected in Your Water)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constituent

Highest No. of Positive

 

MCL

MCLG

Range

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fecal Coliform

0%

 

A routine sample and repeat sample are

0%

None detected

Human and animal fecal waste. Fecal Coliform (mostly E Coli), is a portion of the Coliform

 

 

 

total coliform positive and one is also

 

 

bacteria group originating in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals that passes into

 

 

 

fecal coliform or E. Coli positive.

 

 

the environment through feces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUALITY REPORT

 

MAY 202

Public Water Supply

 

ID No. 0310001

 

 

 

Radioactive Contaminants

 

 

 

Constituent

 

Highest Level Detected

 

MCL

 

 

MCLG

Range

 

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined Radium 226/228 *

1.5 pCi/L

 

 

5.0 pCi/L

 

0.0 pCi/L

1.5 pCi/L

 

Erosion of natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Radioactive monitoring performed in 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inorganic Contaminants

 

 

 

Constituent

Highest Level Detected

MCL

MCLG

 

 

Range

 

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arsenic ***

0.0044 ppm

 

0.010 ppm

0.0 ppm

 

 

0.0044 -

 

Runoff from orchards, natural deposits; runoff from glass and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.0044 ppm

 

electronics production waste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper ***

0.0041 ppm

 

1.3 ppm

1.3 ppm

 

 

0.0041 -

 

Corrosion of houshold plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.0041 ppm

 

leaching from wood preservatives.

 

Fluoride **

0.22 ppm

 

4.0 ppm

4.0 ppm

 

 

0.22 - 0.22

 

Water additive which promotes strong teeth; erosion of natural

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ppm

 

deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lead ***

<1.0 ppb

 

15 ppb

0.0 ppb

 

 

0.0 - 1.0 ppb

 

Corrosion of houshold plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyanide

0.18 ppm

 

0.2 ppm (As

0.2 ppm (As

 

0.18 - 0.18

 

Discharge from fertilizer use leaching from septic tanks, sewage,

 

 

 

Free Cyanide)

Free Cyanide)

 

ppm

 

erosion of natural deposits.

 

Chromium ***

<10.0 ppb

 

100 ppb

100 ppb

 

 

0.0 - 10.0 ppb

Discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrate

0.21 ppm

 

10 ppm

10 ppm

 

 

0.21 - 0.21

 

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ppm

 

of natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nitrite*

0.06 ppm

 

1.0 ppm

1.0 ppm

 

 

0.06 - 0.06

 

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ppm

 

of natural deposits.

 

* Monitoring performed in 2014. ** Monitoring performed in 2018. *** Monitoring performed in 2019. No asterisk indicates monitoring performed in 2020.

 

 

 

 

Disinfection Byproducts

 

 

Constituent

 

Average Level

 

MCL

 

MCLG

 

Range

 

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Trihalomethanes

 

1.4 ppb

 

80 ppb

 

N/A

 

1.4 - 1.4 ppb

 

Byproduct of drinking water chlorination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haloacetic Acids HAA5

 

2.4 ppb

 

60 ppb

 

N/A

 

2.4 - 2.4 ppb

 

Byproduct of drinking water chlorination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloramines

 

3.20 ppm

 

MRDL 4.0 ppm

 

MRDLG 4.0 ppm

 

2.30 - 5.37 ppm

 

Disinfectant used to control microbes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southmost Regional Water Authority

Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated* (No associated adverse health effects)

 

 

 

 

 

Constituent

Average Level

Secondary Limit

Range

Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

Calcium **

29.4 ppm

N/A

29.4 - 29.4 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

 

 

 

 

 

Chloride *

261.0 ppm

300 ppm

261.0 - 261.0

Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification;

 

 

 

ppm

 

byproduct of oil field activity.

 

 

 

 

 

Hardness as CaCO3 **

116 ppm

N/A

116 - 116 ppm

Naturally occurring calcium.

 

 

 

 

 

Nickel **

<0.001 ppm

N/A

0.0 - 0.001 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

 

 

 

 

 

Manganese **

<0.001 ppm

0.05 ppm

0.0 - 0.001 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

 

 

 

 

 

pH

8.35 SU

>7.0 SU

8.08 - 8.46 SU

Measure of corrosivity of water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sodium **

246.0 ppm

N/A

246

- 246.0 ppm

Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of field activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulfate *

146 ppm

300 ppm

146

- 146 ppm

Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of field activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Alkalinity as CaCO3 *

133 ppm

N/A

133

- 133 ppm

Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Dissolved Solids *

784 ppm

1000 ppm

784

- 784 ppm

Total dissolved mineral constituents in water.

 

 

 

 

 

Zinc **

<0.005 ppm

5.00 ppm

0.0 - 0.005 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Monitoring performed in 2018. ** Monitoring performed in 2019. No asterisk indicates monitoring performed in 2020.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets minimum water quality standards for public drinking water. These standards include enforceable treatment technique requirements for drinking water. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches.

Board and

 

 

Executive Management

Jude A. Benavides, Ph.D.

Chair

 

 

Sandra Saenz

 

Vice Chair

 

 

Sandra Lopez-Langley

 

Secretary/Treasurer

 

Anna Oquin

 

 

Member

 

 

Timothy Lopes

 

Member

 

 

Patricio Sampayo

 

Member

 

 

Mayor Trey Mendez

 

Ex-Officio Member

 

John S. Bruciak,

P.E.

 

General Manager &

Chief

 

Executive Officer

 

Fernando Saenz,

P.E.

&

Assistant General Manager

Chief Operating Officer

 

Miguel A. Perez

 

Acting Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Brownsville Public Utilities Board Provides Safe Drinking Water

There is nothing more critical to a community than drinking water. That was reinforced during the winter storm event in February as many communities strug- gled to deliver clean drinking water to its residents.

BPUB prepared for the event, and as the ice melted, BPUB’s water system experienced no water outages and didn’t need to issue any boil water notices. With the needs of our customers met, we were even able to aid other communities.

That commitment to protect your drinking water is something that our employees exemplify every day of the year, not just when there is bad weather coming. That’s our promise to you, and our years of being rated a superior drinking water provider is testament to that.

As we think about how critical drinking water is to a community, don’t forget that we’re expected to have another hot, dry summer. Start getting in the habit now of conserving water whenever you can. Need help learning how? Follow BPUB on Facebook and Twitter for tips or use the online tools on BPUB’s website to learn more.

Sincerely,

John S. Bruciak, P.E.

General Manager and CEO

We Welcome Your Comments

Public participation and education are important elements of our water quality effort. To find out more information about your drinking water, you are invited to the next meeting of our Public Utilities Board Consumer Advisory Panel (PUBCAP).

Note: PUBCAP meetings are typically on the third Wednesday of every month. The BPUB Board of Directors meets the second Monday of every month. Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, these meetings are currently being held virtually. Please check the BPUB website for agendas and meeting details: www.brownsville-pub.com.

Date: Wednesday, July 21

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual – Please check the BPUB website before the meeting for additional details on how to join the meeting.

Or

1425 Robinhood Drive Brownsville, TX 78521 (956) 983-6100 www.brownsville-pub.com

Contact the Communications and Public Relations Department at (956) 983-6271.

4

All Drinking Water May Contain Contaminants Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. Secondary constituents such as calcium, sodium or iron, which are often found in drinking water, can cause taste, color and odor problems. These secondary constituents are regulated by the state of Texas, not the EPA. The constituents are not causes for health concern. For more information, please call the BPUB Analytical Lab at (956) 983-6100.

TABLE 1: Constituents DETECTED In Your Water

DEFINITIONS:

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – The highest level of contaminant 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 not known or expected health risk. 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 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. Treatment Technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Action Level – The concentration of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) – Measurement of amount of silt and particulates in water.

N/A – Not Applicable

Special Notice for the elderly, infants, cancer patients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune problems:

You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised people, such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, those

State Water Loss Audit

In the water loss audit submitted to the Texas Water Development Board for the time period of January through December 2020, our system lost an estimated 567,599,176 gallons (10.31%) of water through main breaks, leaks and other causes. If you have any questions about the water loss audit please call (956) 983-6684.

About the Tables

MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

Constituent

Highest No. of

MCL

MCLG

Range

Likely Source of Contaminant

Positive

 

 

 

 

 

T. Coliform

0.8%

Presence of bacteria in

0%

0 - 0.8%

Naturally present in Environment

5% of monthly samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A routine sample and

 

 

Human and Animal fecal waste. Fecal Coliform (mostly E. Coli), is a portion of the Coliform

 

 

repeat sample are total

 

 

Fecal Coliform

0%

coliform positive and

0%

0%

bacteria group originating in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals that passes into the

 

 

one is also fecal coliform

 

 

environment as feces.

 

 

or E. Coli positive

 

 

 

RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS *

Constituent

Highest Level

MCL

MCLG

Range

Likely Source of Contaminant

Detected

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Beta *

6.0 pCi/L

50 pCi/L

0.0 pCi/L

4.4 - 7.6 pCi/L

Decay of natural and man-made deposits

Radium 228 *

1.17 pCi/L

5.0 pCi/L

0.0 pCi/L

<1.0 - 1.17 pCi/L

Decay of natural and man-made deposits

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 for infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Source Water Susceptibility

Assessment

Our drinking water is obtained from surface water sources (Rio Grande, WTP 1 – 94 13th St., WTP 2 – 1425 Robinhood Rd.) and groundwater sources (SRWA). A Source Water Susceptibility Assessment for your drinking water sources is currently being updated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The report will describe the susceptibility and types of constituents that may come into contact

The following tables contain a listing of the chemical contaminants which were detected in small amounts. In addition to the contaminants listed in the attached tables, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board tested for 132 other contaminants, including mercury and silver, that were NOT detected in your drinking water.

This data is taken from 2020 monitoring results, except where indicated. Most of the contaminants detected and listed in the table on the following page are from natural deposits.

Contaminants that may be present in source water before treatment include:

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

The following list is provided to indicate the

smallness of the units used to measure contaminants:

  • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
  • Pesticides or herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
  • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
  • 1 part per million (ppm) is the equivalent of one packet of artificial sweetener sprinkled into 250 gallons of iced tea.
  • 1 part per billion (ppb) is the equivalent of one packet of artificial sweetener sprinkled in an olympic-sized swimming pool.

* Radioactive monitoring performed in 2017.

INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

Constituent

Average Level

MCL

MCLG

Range (Min - Max)

Likely Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arsenic

<0.0020 ppm

0.010 ppm

0.0 ppm

< 0.0020 - <0.0020 ppm

Runoff from orchards; natural deposits; run off from glass and electronics production waste

Copper

0.0066 ppm

1.3 ppm

1.3 ppm

0.0059 - 0.0073 ppm

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood

preservatives

 

 

 

 

 

Barium

0.0935 ppm

2.0 ppm

2.0 ppm

0.0912 - 0.0958ppm

Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits

Cyanide

0.09 ppm

0.2 ppm

0.2 ppm

<0.01 - 0.09 ppm

Discharge from fertilizer use: leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

(As Free Cyanide)

(As Free Cyanide)

 

 

 

 

Nitrate

0.47 ppm

10 ppm

10 ppm

0.44 - 0.50 ppm

Runoff from fertilizer use: leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

Fluoride

0.64 ppm

4.0 ppm

4.0 ppm

0.64 - 0.64 ppm

Water additive which promotes strong teeth: erosion of natural deposits; discharge from

fertilizer and aluminum factories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS

Constituent

Average Level

MCL

MCLG

Range (Min - Max)

Likely Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Trihalomethanes

26.4 ppb

80 ppb

N/A

14.2 - 54.1 ppb

By-product of drinking water chlorination

Haloacetic Acids

11.8 ppb

60 ppb

N/A

1.0 - 24.0 ppb

By-product of drinking water chlorination

HAA5

 

 

 

 

 

Chloramines

3.70 ppm

MRDL 4.0 ppm

MRDLG 4.0 ppm

0.5 - 6.0 ppm

Disinfectant used to control microbes

Chlorine Dioxide

49 ppb

MRDL 800 ppb

MRDLG 800 ppb

0 - 240 ppb

Disinfectant used to control microbes

Chlorite

0.55 ppm

1.0 ppm

MRDLG 0.8 ppm

0.02 - 0.55 ppm

By-product of disinfection with chlorine dioxide

TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON

The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month and the system met all TOC removal requirements set,unless a TOC violation is noted in the violation section.

Constituent

Average

MCL

 

MCLG

Range (Min - Max)

Likely Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turbidity

0.07 NTU

0.30 NTU

 

N/A

0.02 - 0.24 NTU

Soil runoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brownsville Public Utilities Board

Secondary and Other Constituents Not Regulated

(No associated adverse health effects)

Constituent

Average Level

Secondary Limit

Range (Min - Max)

Likely Source of Contaminant

 

 

 

 

 

Aluminum

0.0230 ppm

0.05 - 0.2 ppm

0.0200 - 0.0230 ppm

Erosion of natural deposits; residual from some surface water treatment process.

Calcium

75.3 ppm

N/A

72.8 - 77.7 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

Chloride

159 ppm

300 ppm

146 - 172 ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element; used in water purification; byproduct of oil field activity.

Hardness as CaCO3

290 ppm

N/A

281 - 299 ppm

Naturally occurring calcium.

Nickel

2.1 ppb

N/A

1.8 - 2.4 ppb

Abundant naturally occurring element.

with your drinking water source based on human activities and natural conditions. The information contained in the assessment allows us to focus our source water protection strategies. For more information about your sources of water, please refer to the Source Water Assessment Viewer available at the following URL: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/gis/swaview. Further details about sources and source-water assessments are available at Drinking Water Watch at the following URL: http://dww2.tceq.texas.gov/DWW/. For more information on water assessment and protection efforts at our system, please contact the BPUB’s Environmental Services Department at (956) 983-6100.

Brownsville Public Utilities Board

Monitoring Period (August – September 2018)**

Residential LEAD AND COPPER RULE MONITORING

Constituent

90th Percentile

50 sites tested, Number

Action Level

Likely Source of Contaminant

 

 

exceeding action level

 

 

Lead

1.1ppb

None

15.0 ppb

Corrosion of household plumbing

systems; Erosion of natural deposits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

0.2178 ppm

None

1.3 ppm

Corrosion of household plumbing

systems; Erosion of natural deposits;

 

 

 

 

Leaching from wood preservatives

 

 

 

 

 

**Lead and Copper monitoring at residential sites performed on a tri-annual basis. Analysis performed in 2018

Comments: In addition to the contaminants listed in the attached tables, the BPUB tested for 132 other contaminants that were not detected.

pH

8.0 SU

>7.0 SU

7.9 - 8.10 SU

Measure of corrosivity of water.

Sodium

142 ppm

N/A

132 - 152 ppm

Erosion of natural deposits; byproduct of oil field activity.

Sulfate

248 ppm

300 ppm

230 - 266 ppm

Naturally occurring; common industrial byproduct; byproduct of oil field activity.

Total Alkalinity as

128 ppm

N/A

123 - 133 ppm

Naturally occurring soluble mineral salts.

CaCO3

 

 

 

 

Total Dissolved Solids

766 ppm

1000 ppm

715 - 817 ppm

Total dissolved mineral constituents in water.

Zinc

<0.005 ppm

5.0 ppm

<0.005 - <0.005* ppm

Abundant naturally occurring element.

* All Values reported were below detection Limits

VIOLATIONS

VIOLATIONS

Date of

Explain violation

Length of violation

Action taken to resolve

Health Effects

violation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Notice

January 15, 2020

The Brownsville PUB issued a

The Brownsville PUB rescinded the BWN on January 16, 2020, after providing the

The 16-inch water line was repaired.

None

 

 

Boil Water Notice due to low

required compliance documentation to the TCEQ which shows that the PWS has met the

 

 

Boil Water Notices (BWNs) are

 

pressure in the distribution

following requirements:

Collected bacteriological and chlorine

 

instituted by Public Water

 

system (below 20 pounds per

 

residual samples at 10 different sites

 

Systems (PWSs) as specified

 

square inch (psi)).

• Water distribution pressures greater than 20 psi are consistently maintained throughout

(TCEQ approved sites), and results

 

by Title 30 Texas Administrative

 

 

the distribution system.

came back negative.

 

Code (TAC) §290.46(q)

 

16-inch water line break at

 

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Ave. and Bernal Dr.

• The distribution system has been flushed, disinfectant residuals are consistently

The pressure was restored and

 

 

 

 

maintained above the minimum regulatory requirements (0.2 mg/L free chlorine or 0.5

maintained throughout the distribution

 

 

 

 

mg/L total chlorine) throughout the distribution system.

system.

 

 

 

 

• Microbiological samples marked “special” collected from representative locations

 

 

 

 

 

throughout the system and analyzed by an accredited lab are found negative for total

 

 

 

 

 

coliform organisms.

 

 

2

3

Contaminants


Brownsville Public Utilities Board

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: 176362
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Surface water
  • Total: 29

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Arsenic
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Chlorite
  • Chloroform
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid

Other Detected Contaminants

  • 1%2C4-Dioxane
  • Aluminum
  • Atrazine
  • Barium
  • Bromochloroacetic acid
  • Chlorate
  • Chromium (total)
  • Cyanide
  • Dibromoacetic acid
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Hexadecanoic acid
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Monobromoacetic acid
  • Nitrate
  • 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

Brownsville Tap Water

Have you been informed of the dangerous levels of prescription drugs and contaminants found in the water supply of Brownsville, Texas? Many people are not aware that Brownsville’s city serves as a significant drug manufacturing and processing center! You have to question the level of competence of the people running this vast city, but large amounts of money are being pumped into the city every year. Pharmaceuticals want to be the primary producer of medical drugs, so the city has one of the highest prescription drug use rates in the country. If you have children, you may very well have to contend with contaminated water, and many people are finding it difficult to get quality water to drink… even in big cities like Houston.

There is no shortage of water in Brownsville, Texas, just a massive demand for purified water. For this reason, there are many different types of water purification systems on the market today, including reverse osmosis, which is expensive, and ultraviolet (UV) water purification systems, which are not only inexpensive but effective. Some people have discovered that they can live comfortably on bottled water because there is such a high demand for purified water that their stores do not sell it in the retail market. Amazingly, people are put through such harmful things day in and day out, yet we can’t seem to protect our health from the sun’s harmful rays, so why should we subject our bodies to such things when we can buy quality water to drink at home?

One company in Brownsville, Texas that has developed a water treatment line and has gotten great reviews is Pentek. They are experts in water purification, and they claim that they can turn polluted water into potable water, and they can even turn raw water into de-mineralized water! The technology they use for both filtering and purified water makes them one of the most credible companies to purchase your water purification system from, and you can learn much more about this company by visiting their website at:

Brownsville Public Utilities Board

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is the governing body of the community of Brownsville. It is also the biggest electric provider in Brownsville, Texas, and the second-largest water provider in the entire city. It provides competitive prices and reliable service to residents, both commercial and residential, and offers energy efficiency programs and other environmental initiatives. To use these services, you must have an account with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.

The Bureau of Electric & Mechanical Services regulates all aspects of the community’s electrical supply and distribution. You can learn more about your provider by doing a thorough analysis of the website. The site will help you determine whether they are meeting all the requirements you need in terms of reliability, cost, service, and reliability. Before signing up for any service, make sure to call their customer service number to ensure that everything will be satisfied once it comes into your home. Many customers have had problems with their electricity, and it’s essential to be fully aware of what is going on before agreeing to anything.

It’s easy to turn to your public supplier when you need electricity, and you can trust them to help you if you’re not satisfied with the service they provide. When choosing a provider, there are a lot of things that you should consider. How long have they been in business? Are they environmentally responsible? If you’re having a problem with your electricity, you need first to see whether they have resolved the issue before deciding to switch.

Brownsville Drinking Water

Many people are concerned about the quality of their drinking water in Brownsville, Texas. Recently, the AP investigation found elevated levels of prescription drugs in the city’s water supply. The AP also reported that one out of every five homes in Brownsville has at least one person with trace amounts of drugs in their drinking water. There have been no known severe consequences yet from this finding. However, the fact remains that if you are concerned about your family’s safety, it is essential to make sure that the water coming into your home is clean and pure.

One way to make sure that the water in your home is clean and pure is to install a water purification system. A water purification system is a simple solution for ensuring that your water is safe for consumption. With a water purification system, all of the harmful chemicals and contaminants that could harm you and your family will be filtered out. This filtering system takes out toxic substances and leaves in the healthy substances that your body needs. Even if you live in a rural area where there is no tap water available, you can still use these systems. Many stores even carry bottled water, which can still be used as long as the tap water is clean.

Even if you do not have access to drinking water, it is still easy to ensure that you and your family are healthy. A simple way to make sure that the water you are drinking is clean is to purchase a purification system. If you currently use tap water to brush your teeth, wash dishes, or anything else, you may want to consider filtering that water before drinking it so that you are ensured that it is safe for consumption. Whatever way you choose to purify your water, whether you buy bottled water, take a filtered bottle to the store, or install a water purification system in your home, you are making a healthy choice that will benefit the health of your loved ones.

Brownsville Water Treatment

A recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer highlighted the need for a long-overdue overhaul of the public Cleveland water treatment plant. The report noted that the city has “diverted” its budgeted funds to keep the water treatment plant’s operation “on track” and is now seeking outside help to complete that job. It also noted that despite the city’s best efforts, it is struggling to keep up with legal mandates requiring it to protect against chemicals that could end up in the public’s drinking water. A recent report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) concluded, “A large number of contaminants from local sources like stormwater and sewage are getting into the water table.”

How much of that pollution comes from industrial facilities in west Cleveland? Some have suspected that the percentage is as high as 80%. The Brownsville water treatment plant serves as the delivery point for treated sewage from East Cleveland and the surrounding region. That stream of wastewater makes its way down to the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport and then into the City of Cleveland’s general sewer system. Although the extent of the contamination is unknown, a problem is undoubtedly afoot: According to the Plain Dealer, the testing showed “trace levels” of prescription drugs in the drinking water, “including anti-depressants.”

In response to the situation, the Cleveland City Manager Edravron J. Brown declared, “A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of these findings.” The testing was prompted by an outbreak of cholera in the City of Cleveland a few months ago. A plume of greenish-black bacteria called coliform was detected near the airport. The Cleveland Clinic was among those that received reports of people becoming ill with severe diarrhea and vomiting shortly after eating contaminated food. A group of older adults who live on the East Side were diagnosed with severe gastroenteritis after drinking contaminated water. The Ohio Department of Health believes that the contaminated water may have come from the public drinking water treatment plant, but that investigation has not yet been completed.

Brownsville Water Quality

The city of Brownsville is located right in the heart of Texas. It’s only about a two-hour drive north of San Antonio, another major Texas city, which means that the water in Brownsville has to be of much higher quality than most cities in Texas or anywhere else for that matter. This is the case because of all of the pollutants that get into the water that is sent into the area by water from the surrounding areas, including the Rio Grande Valley. Many people live in this area, and the water quality in the air and the ground is terrible, which means that most homes will have to have some filter for the faucets in them, or else they’ll be having the water comes out of the tap or through a pitcher.

The way that this is usually handled is through a reverse osmosis system. It’s a complicated process, but it works well enough to make sure that at least some of the impurities cannot make it through. The process itself is relatively simple, though, since it simply uses a series of chambers with a large amount of pressure to force the water through. To start the flow of water, though, you need to have a pressure tank. These are used to keep the tension high enough for the water to move through quickly.

To see how well the water quality is in your area, you can test it yourself. It’s easy enough to do since you need to get a couple of water bottles and then go to a testing center. They will let you know what the water quality is as well as how clean it is. If you live in an area where the water might have contaminants in it, these tests can help you find out what those impurities might be.

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