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Texas as a whole is not known for its stellar water quality, and it often finds itself on lists ranking the worst drinking water in the United States (1). That being said, Texas is a large state, and not all cities meet this unfortunate criteria. Tap water in Dallas is carefully monitored, and the city of Dallas takes careful precautions to achieve a “Superior” rating by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. However, there are still contaminants in Dallas tap water that you may not want to be drinking.
While Dallas sits on top of an aquifer, all of Dallas’s drinking water flows from surface water sources. Their surface water sources include lakes and rivers, including Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Lewisville, Lake Grapevine, Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Tawakoni, and Lake Fork (2). The Trinity River flows into many of these lakes, supplying them with springwater, rainfall, and snowmelt.
The local government in Dallas is careful to ensure it meets all EPA regulations, earning it a “Superior” rating by the state government. In addition to meeting all federal requirements to achieve safe water, Dallas goes one step farther, replacing all public service pipes with non-corrosive pipes to eliminate any possibility of lead contamination due to the public sector (3). Additionally (and contrary to public practice), Dallas avoids using chlorine as a disinfectant to reduce the risk of trihalomethane exposure. TTHMS are often linked to kidney, liver, and colon cancer.
That being said, there are a few contaminants that are effectively out of the government’s control to reduce, and it is important to beaware of these before drinking the tap water in Dallas.
First, while Dallas no longer uses lead service pipes to transport water into homes, many individual households still use pipes that may contain lead. Houses built before 1986 often utilize pipes, sinks, faucets, and welding solder that contain lead, and these plumbing fixtures are still active today (4). Because these pipes are on individuals’ properties, it is up to the individual to replace these fixtures with safe, newer pipes that do not contain lead. As of October 29, 2024, nearly 235,000 households were sent notices that their homes use private service lines that contain an unknown material, so it is crucial for Dallas homeowners to check if their pipes contain lead before drinking the tap water (5).
Even exposure to lead in small doses can be dangerous, as it is a heavy metal high in toxicity. Due to old pipes and plumbing fixtures, water continues to wear down on pipes, which can cause flakes of lead to enter the water supply. Lead exposure is linked to high blood pressure, decreased kidney function, and reproductive complications.
If you live in a home that still runs on pipes that contain lead, there are a few different techniques you can use to lessen your risk of lead poisoning. An expensive but effective first step would be to replace your lead-based fixtures with safer, non-corrosive fixtures. However, if that is not an option, letting tap water run cold for a few minutes before using it can lessen (but not fully eliminate) the risk of lead exposure.
To ensure your water is fully lead-free, the CDC recommends using a tested water filter. Using an independently tested water filter, like those offered by Seychelle, will allow you the peace of mind knowing that your tap water is lead-free.
New legislation is adding enforceable legal limits to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS (6). PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are nearly indestructible chemical compounds. Industries that create nonstick materials–anything from pots and pans to raincoats–are widely responsible for PFAS entering the environment, and once they are in the environment, they seep into soil and water sources.
Nearly every water source has some level of PFAS contamination, as there are thousands of types of PFAS that range in severity when someone is exposed to them. In Dallas, PFAS may be present in the water due to waste disposal, fire-fighting activities, and industrial processes (2). That being said, the “current levels for PFAS in DWU’s [Dallas Water Utilities] drinking water comply with the forthcoming regulatory limits” (7).
Dallas drinking water surpasses all legal requirements for PFAS, but some people choose to eliminate the risk of PFAS exposure entirely. The health effects of different PFAS continues to be studied, but the EPA currently links PFAS exposure to high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects in children, increased risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, and interference with the body’s hormones (8).
In order to eliminate the risk of PFAS exposure through your water, a water filter is needed. Be sure to invest in a filter that specifically states it will remove PFAS, like the Seychelle Gen 2 Dual Regular Water Pitcher. By running your water through a trusted water filter, you can have the peace of mind knowing you can limit your PFAS exposure.
Dallas drinking water meets or surpasses all legal requirements for safe drinking water. The local government even takes extra safety precautions, like using non-corrosive pipes in public service lines and avoiding chlorine in their disinfectant process. Some contaminants, like lead and PFAS, may still enter the water supply due to private pipes or environmental contamination. To remove these contaminants from your water, consider an independently lab-tested water filter.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Dallas?
Yes. Dallas tap water is considered safe to drink.
What is the ranking of the Dallas water quality system?
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ranks Dallas as a “Superior” water quality system.
What city in Texas has the best water?
Dallas has the highest ranking water in Texas.
References
Jess Thomson,Newsweek,https://www.newsweek.com/worst-drinking-water-map-usa-states-2013078
Maria Ramos Pacheco,The Dallas Morning News,https://www.dallasnews.com/news/environment/2024/11/11/do-you-have-lead-pipes-what-dallas-water-utilities-is-doing-to-comply-with-the-epa/
Emma Ruby, Dallas Observer,https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-warns-lead-pipe-potential-mass-letter-21063984
United States Environmental Protection Agency,https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/drinking-water-utilities-and-professionals-technical-overview-of-pfas-npdwr.pdf
City of Dallas,https://dallascityhall.com/departments/waterutilities/Pages/PFAS.aspx
United States Environmental Protection Agency,https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
