We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Texas to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Coupland, Texas
Coupland has 23 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 50 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Coupland water report →Galena Park, Texas
Galena Park has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 55 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Galena Park water report →Hamlin, Texas
Hamlin has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hamlin water report →Lawn, Texas
Lawn has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lawn water report →Forney, Texas
Forney has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Forney water report →Aledo, Texas
Aledo has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 48 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Aledo water report →Florence, Texas
Florence has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 44 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Florence water report →Terrell, Texas
Terrell has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Terrell water report →Little River Academy, Texas
Little River Academy has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 37 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Little River Academy water report →Hudson Oaks, Texas
Hudson Oaks has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 36 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hudson Oaks water report →Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 60 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pasadena water report →Webster, Texas
Webster has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 55 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Webster water report →Jacinto City, Texas
Jacinto City has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 53 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Jacinto City water report →Shoreacres, Texas
Shoreacres has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 52 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Shoreacres water report →Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 42 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Sugar Land water report →Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 42 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Huntsville water report →Liberty Hill, Texas
Liberty Hill has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 42 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Liberty Hill water report →Carrollton, Texas
Carrollton has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Carrollton water report →Tuscola, Texas
Tuscola has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Tuscola water report →Merkel, Texas
Merkel has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Merkel water report →Haslet, Texas
Haslet has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Haslet water report →Tye, Texas
Tye has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Tye water report →Buffalo Gap, Texas
Buffalo Gap has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 41 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Buffalo Gap water report →Abilene, Texas
Abilene has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Abilene water report →Dyess Afb, Texas
Dyess Afb has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 40 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Dyess Afb water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 492 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 24 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 468 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coupland | TX | 50 | 23 | 0 | 39,648 |
| 2 | Galena Park | TX | 55 | 21 | 0 | 10,293 |
| 3 | Hamlin | TX | 41 | 21 | 3 | 2,164 |
| 4 | Lawn | TX | 41 | 21 | 3 | 767 |
| 5 | Forney | TX | 40 | 21 | 0 | 27,040 |
| 6 | Aledo | TX | 48 | 20 | 0 | 5,010 |
| 7 | Florence | TX | 44 | 20 | 0 | 1,136 |
| 8 | Terrell | TX | 40 | 20 | 1 | 18,897 |
| 9 | Little River Academy | TX | 37 | 20 | 0 | 1,961 |
| 10 | Hudson Oaks | TX | 36 | 20 | 0 | 3,154 |
| 11 | Pasadena | TX | 60 | 19 | 0 | 153,000 |
| 12 | Webster | TX | 55 | 19 | 1 | 13,710 |
| 13 | Jacinto City | TX | 53 | 19 | 0 | 10,625 |
| 14 | Shoreacres | TX | 52 | 19 | 0 | 1,493 |
| 15 | Sugar Land | TX | 42 | 19 | 0 | 90,909 |
| 16 | Huntsville | TX | 42 | 19 | 1 | 55,019 |
| 17 | Liberty Hill | TX | 42 | 19 | 0 | 8,777 |
| 18 | Carrollton | TX | 41 | 19 | 0 | 136,170 |
| 19 | Tuscola | TX | 41 | 19 | 2 | 7,338 |
| 20 | Merkel | TX | 41 | 19 | 3 | 3,888 |
| 21 | Haslet | TX | 41 | 19 | 0 | 3,579 |
| 22 | Tye | TX | 41 | 19 | 1 | 1,176 |
| 23 | Buffalo Gap | TX | 41 | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | Abilene | TX | 40 | 19 | 3 | 125,182 |
| 25 | Dyess Afb | TX | 40 | 19 | 3 | 7,524 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Texas?
Based on 2026 data, Coupland, TX has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
