Is McAllen, TX tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for McAllen Public Utility. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.

2 public water systems serve parts of McAllen. The largest, McAllen Public Utility, serves 145,050 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

McAllen Public Utility

145,050 people · Surface water · EPA ID TX1080006

Buys treated water from City of Pharr, City of Edinburg, City of Hidalgo Water System, City of Mission.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 2.3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Jun 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full McAllen Public Utility results

Across Texas, 28 of 1,130 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 13 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Texas results.

McAllen homes and lead pipes

25%

of homes built before 1980 (Texas 33%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Texas 6%)

41%

of households rent (Texas 37%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for McAllen city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving McAllen

Sharyland Water Supply Corporation
68,562 people · Surface water · Texas · reported ZIPs here
PFOA detectedAlso: PFOS detected · PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level · 1 health-based violation since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Mission 5 mi City of Mission	City of Mission	None above limits	1.83 ppb
Pharr 5 mi City of Pharr	City of Pharr	None above limits	1.09 ppb
San Juan 6 mi North Alamo Water Supply Corporation	North Alamo Water Supply Corporation	None above limits	0.32 ppb
Edinburg 8 mi City of Edinburg	City of Edinburg	None above limits	0 ppb
Weslaco 17 mi North Alamo Water Supply Corporation	North Alamo Water Supply Corporation	None above limits	0.32 ppb
Harlingen 34 mi Harlingen Water Works System	Harlingen Water Works System	None above limits	0 ppb

McAllen ZIP codes (3)

78501
78503
78504

Questions

Is McAllen tap water safe to drink?

McAllen Public Utility has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in McAllen, TX?

2 public water systems serve parts of McAllen. The largest is McAllen Public Utility (145,050 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does McAllen tap water have PFAS?

McAllen Public Utility had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do McAllen homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 25% of McAllen homes as built before 1980 (Texas: 33%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. McAllen Public Utility's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.