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Is Wichita Falls Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:49 pm, August 5, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Wichita Falls?

Yes, Wichita Falls's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Wichita Falls 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, Wichita Falls's water utility, City of Wichita Falls, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Wichita Falls was resolved on Sept. 30, 2014. This assessment is based on the City of Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls Tap Water

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

Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls for Wichita Falls in Texas. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

From Sept. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2014, Wichita Falls had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Chlorite.

Is there Lead in Wichita Falls Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Wichita Falls water system, City of Wichita Falls, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0028 mg/L of lead in Wichita Falls water. This is 18.7% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Wichita Falls contained more lead.

While Wichita Falls water testing may have found 0.0028 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 Wichita Falls 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 at least one military base - Sheppard Air Force Base - near Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls 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.

Wichita Falls 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
09/01/2014 - 09/30/2014 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) Chlorite (1009) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210)

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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.

Wichita Falls Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DO I CONTACT WICHITA FALLS CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Wichita Falls water provider, City of Wichita Falls, please use the information below.
By Mail: PO BOX 1431
WICHITA FALLS, TX, 76307-1431
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CITY OF WICHITA FALLS
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their City of Wichita Falls account to pay their Wichita Falls water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your City of Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls 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 WICHITA FALLS WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Wichita Falls means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Wichita Falls. 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 Wichita Falls means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Wichita Falls. 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

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Wichita Falls tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 33% Low
  • Water Pollution 45% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 67% High
  • Water Quality 55% Moderate

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

Related FAQS

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

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Wichita Falls

 

EPA

 

 

Water Results

Regulations

 

 

Reportable

Range of

Maximum

 

Maximum

Analysis

Constituent

Contaminant

 

Contaminant Level

 

Value

Detection

Level

 

Goal

Year

Giardia; cysts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not naturally present in the

0

0 - 0

Not Regulated

 

0

2020

environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cryptosporidium; oocysts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not naturally present in the environ-

0

0 - 0

Not Regulated

 

0

2020

ment

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Regulated

Compounds

These compounds either occur naturally within the watersheds or are products of human activities. Turbidity is a measure of the "cloudiness" of the water due to suspended material. The City of Wichita Falls monitors it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration systems. For the year 2020, 100% of the >4300 turbidity samples that were taken for regulatory compliance fell below the Treatment Technique of

0.3 NTU. Also, you will notice that some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old. The State of Texas allows the City of Wichita Falls to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently.

 

Wichita Falls

 

EPA

 

 

Water Results

 

Regulations

 

 

Reportable

Range of

Maximum

Maximum

Analysis

 

Contaminant

Contaminant

Constituent

Value

Detection

Level

Level Goal

Year

Aluminum; ppm

0.016

<0.005 - 0.016

0.2

0.2

2020

Natural Geology; Rock and Soil Erosion

Barium; ppm

0.032

0.030

- 0.032

2

2

2020

Natural Geology; Drilling Waste

Fluoride; ppm

0.768

0.614

- 0.768

4

4

2020

Water Additive; Natural Geology

Nitrate; ppm

0.194

0.093

- 0.194

10

10

2020

Fertilizer Runoff; Septic Tanks; Animal Waste

Nitrite; ppm

0.07

<0.0008 - 0.065

1

1

2015

Fertilizer Runoff; Septic Tanks; Animal Waste

Total Organic Carbon; ppm

7.23

<0.10 - 7.23

TT

N/A

2020

Naturally Present in the Environment

Turbidity; NTU

0.31

0.03

- 0.31

TT = 0.3

N/A

2020

Soil Runoff

Combined Radium 226/228; pCi/L

1

1

- 1

5

0

2011

Decay of Natural & Man-Made Deposits

Gross Beta Emitters; pCi/L

8.4

8.4

- 8.4

50

0

2017

Decay of Natural & Man-Made Deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wichita Falls

 

EPA

 

 

Regulated

 

Water Results

Regulations

 

 

 

Reportable

Range of

 

 

 

Analysis

 

Disinfectants

Constituent

Value

Detection

MRDL

 

MRDLG

Year

 

The City of Wichita Falls utilizes Chloramines (Total

Chlorine Dioxide; ppm

0.36

<0.10 - 0.36

0.8

 

0

2020

 

Chlorine) and Chlorine Dioxide to inactivate disease causing

Disinfectant

 

 

viruses and bacteria in your drinking water. Disinfectants

Chlorine (Total); ppm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

are monitored to ensure that they are adequately applied

4.2

2.8 - 4.2

4

 

<4.0

2020

 

to the drinking water.

Disinfectant (MRDL for running annual average)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Regulated within the Distribution System

There were 3 regulated disinfection by-products that were detected in your drinking water in 2020. Disinfectants are very active compounds that not only inactivate disease causing organisms, but also react with other naturally occurring compounds in the source waters to produce new compounds referred to as disinfection by-products , or DBPs. The City of Wichita Falls takes great care in keeping the concentrations of these by-products below their regulated limits.

 

Wichita Falls

EPA

 

 

Water Results

Regulations

 

 

Reportable

Range of

Maximum

Maximum

 

 

Contaminant

Contaminant

 

Constituent

Value

Detection

Analysis Year

Level

Level Goal

Total Trihalomethane; ppb

28.1

11.4 - 28.1

80

0

2020

By-Product of Chlorination

Haloacetic Acid 5; ppb

28.4

11.0 - 28.4

60

0

2020

By-Product of Chlorination

Chlorite; ppm

0.57

<0.01 - 0.57

1

0

2020

By-Product of Chlorine Dioxide

Lead and Copper

Lead and Copper are regulated at the consumer's tap under the Lead and Copper Rule of 1991. This monitoring is conducted every 3 years, and the City has completed 10 cycles of monitoring. The City of Wichita Falls has an effective program of corrosion control to keep these two metals from being leached out of your household plumbing.

 

Wichita Falls

EPA

 

 

Water Results

Regulations

 

 

Reportable

 

Maximum

Maximum

 

 

90th Percentile

Contaminant

Contaminant

 

Constituent

Value

Analysis Year

 

Level

Level Goal

Lead; ppb

2.8

2.8

15

0

2018

Corrosion of Household Plumbing

Copper; ppm

0.085

0.085

1.3

1.3

2018

Corrosion of Household Plumbing

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. This water supply is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

 

 

Total Coliform Bacteria

E. coli

Bacteria

 

Regulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MCL

Highest No. of

MCL

 

Highest No.

 

Microbiologicals

Constituent

Positive

 

of Positive

Analysis Year

 

 

 

Coliform bacteria are naturally present in the environment.

Coliform Bacteria

5

0

1

 

0

2020

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O N E H M D P A I N T O D O I O F I

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N T U Z S R E Z R S D F A Z O Z M L

E O C Q N B L T E K K L W S N W E O

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D Z X C D Y A R P S R I A H V B L O

E P L A S T I C B O T T L E S Q W O

M Q P U H C T E K Z D R A T S U M F

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PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

WICHITA FALLS TX

PERMIT NO 149

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Contaminants


City of Wichita Falls

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: 103000
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Surface water
  • Total: 39

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Arsenic
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Chlorite
  • Chloroform
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Nitrate
  • Nitrate and nitrite
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid

Other Detected Contaminants

  • 1%2C2%2C4-Trimethylbenzene
  • 1%2C4-Dioxane
  • Aluminum
  • Antimony
  • Barium
  • Bromochloroacetic acid
  • Chlorate
  • Chromium (total)
  • Cyanide
  • Dibromoacetic acid
  • Diquat
  • Ethylbenzene
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Manganese
  • Methyl ethyl ketone
  • Methyl isobutyl ketone
  • Molybdenum
  • Monobromoacetic acid
  • Monochloroacetic acid
  • Nitrite
  • Paraquat
  • Selenium
  • Strontium
  • Uranium
  • Vanadium
  • Xylenes (total)

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

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