What's in Austin, TX tap water?

A plain-language read on Austin's drinking water, with a clear next step.

Updated November 11, 2026

Meets federal standards — a home test is still worth it

Compliant on regulated contaminants, with disinfection byproducts the main thing to watch.

The readout

source: Colorado River (Highland Lakes)
overall: Meets EPA standards
hardness: Hard
primary watch item: Disinfection byproducts (TTHMs)

Austin Water meets federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, but federal limits aren't the same as zero risk. Public reports note disinfection byproducts and trace contaminants worth a home test if anyone in your household is pregnant or immunocompromised.

This page is generated from EPA and local data; numbers below are illustrative pending the live data feed.

What to do next

1
Test
Run a home water test for TTHMs and hardness
Go
2
Filter
Add a certified carbon filter if results warrant
Go
3
Service
Get a local water-treatment quote for whole-home needs
Go

Part of the Water & Filtration hub— the rest of our coverage in this category.

Every water filters & testsproduct we've reviewed— what we'd buy, what we'd skip, and where each one stands.

What the research says

more than 98 percent of U.S. residents tested are carrying PFAS in their blood or tissue
— In 2019-05-15 testimony, Erik D. Olson, JD cited ...
Testimony of Erik D. Olson - PFAS — U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce (2019-05-15)
112.3 million people got their water from systems that detected lead at or above the 5 ppb lead level
— In 2026-02-24 testimony, Erik D. Olson, JD cited ...
Testimony of Erik D. Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health, NRDC — U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment (2026-02-24)
prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children
— In 2026-02-24 testimony, Erik D. Olson, JD cited ...
Testimony of Erik D. Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health, NRDC — U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment (2026-02-24)