Water Quality Reports

While water utilities may not directly employ trained medical doctors or toxicologists, it is our job to protect public health by providing high-quality drinking water in compliance with standards established by federal and state public health and regulatory agencies. Fort Worth Water is dedicated to delivering our customers reliable and affordable drinking water.

This report contains a great deal of information about your water–from source to your tap. The data tables show that our water met all of the federal and state standards. We follow state rules in presenting the information to you.

Changes are coming in two areas that we want you to know about. 

New requirements regarding lead and copper reporting and outreach take effect in October 2024. Learn more about this on page 14. 

In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued new rules related to some emerging contaminants. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals used since the 1940s in common household, commercial and industrial products. The new rule sets limits for six PFAS compounds, and includes deadlines for monitoring and compliance.

Fort Worth tested for 29 PFAS compounds in 2023. The results on page 19 show levels above the future limits at the North Holly and South Holly water treatment plants. These facilities treat water originating primarily from Lake Worth.  

Fort Worth has been working with an engineering consultant since December 2023 to evaluate the best options to incorporate PFAS treatment into the existing water treatment process at the North and South Holly plants. This summer the utility will seek city council approval to award a contract to design a treatment process to meet the new standards. 

Our efforts on PFAS do not stop with drinking water. Fort Worth is looking at PFAS throughout the entire water cycle – source water, drinking water, wastewater and reclaimed water. 

The reality is PFAS is everywhere in the world, including inside our homes, and we all have played a role in it getting into our water.  Know that Fort Worth Water will do what it takes to comply with the new regulations. 

If you have any questions regarding this report or water quality in general, please contact us at 817-392-4477 or  wpe@FortWorthTexas.gov.

Chris Harder, Fort Worth Water Director

This section identifies the water sources used to provide you with quality drinking water, details on the water treatment process used by the utility, and information about the staff committed to keeping our water supply efficient and reliable. 

Delivery

At Home

Water quality is Fort Worth’s highest priority. Staff is dedicated to ensuring the water you drink is of the highest quality, from treatment, through storage and distribution, to your home or place of business.  

The private plumbing in homes and businesses can impact water quality.

This section includes information related to water that directly affects the homes and businesses of customers.

Data & More

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency require public water systems to provide this report to their customers. The utility must include certain information to keep customers well informed about the water they receive at home and place of work. 

In this section, you will find information about chemical and bacteriological contaminants, compliance with drinking water rules, and educational health information. In addition, it provides answers to common questions.

People with compromised immune systems may be more vulnerable

You may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain microbial contaminants, such as Cryptosporidium, in drinking water. Infants, some elderly, or immunocompromised persons such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; those who have undergone organ transplants; those who are undergoing treatment with steroids; and people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders can be particularly at risk from infections. You should seek advice about drinking water from your physician or health care provider. Additional guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Municipal water sources can include surface, ground, and/or recycled water. In Fort Worth, the utility uses 100% surface water from area lakes to provide drinking water.

This section identifies the water sources used to provide you with quality drinking water, details on the water treatment process used by the utility, and information about the staff committed to keeping our water supply efficient and reliable. 

Where does my water come from?

Supplying water to the nation’s 13^th largest city is no easy feat, and the challenges going forward will become even greater as demand for water increases. Sure, we see water in many places, such as the lakes, rivers and streams that dot the Texas landscape, and we think our water supply is plentiful. That’s not the case. Water is a precious resource and it takes so much more to get clean, quality water to your kitchen faucet than just pumping it from those sources.

Fort Worth’s water supply comes from Lake Worth, Lake Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain Lake, Benbrook Lake, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir and the Clear Fork of the Trinity River (see map below). Fort Worth owns Lake Worth, and Benbrook Lake is the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) owns the four remaining lakes as well as the water rights to them.

Rainfall & Lake Levels

Locally, the average annual rainfall totals about 37 inches compared to just over 40 inches a year south of Dallas where Richland Chambers and Cedar Creek reservoirs are located. 

TRWD constructed Cedar Creek Lake in the 1960s, and in 1972, the Rolling Hills plant began treating drinking water. In 2023, the city bought 81.8 billion gallons of raw water from TRWD.

Fort Worth can treat about 500 million gallons of drinking water a day. The utility provides water to more than 1.4 million people in Fort Worth and surrounding communities. 

Who is Who & Who Does What?

Fort Worth and the Tarrant Regional Water District provide much of North Texas with high-quality and reliable water, and raw water, respectively. Through conservation efforts, each entity plays a role in making sure we have enough water for the future. Both are committed to conserving our natural resources.

Fort Worth Water

Fort Worth Water provides drinking water, wastewater and reclaimed water services to its roughly 297,000 accounts and one or more of those services to 38 wholesale customers. In Fiscal Year 2023, the city purchased 81.8 billion gallons of raw water from TRWD to treat for drinking and other uses. 

Tarrant Regional Water District

TRWD provides raw water to 70 customers, including Fort Worth which accounts for 60% of TRWD's raw water demand. The district owns Lake Bridgeport, Cedar Creek Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, and Richland-Chambers Reservoir. The district owns and operates 250 miles of pipeline that transport raw water from the lakes east of Dallas to Tarrant County.

TCEQ Assessed Raw Water Supplies for Susceptibility

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality completed an assessment of Fort Worth’s source waters. TCEQ classified the risk to our source waters as high for most contaminants.

High susceptibility means that activities near the source water or watershed make it very likely that chemical constituents may come into contact with the source water. It does not mean that any health risks are present.

Tarrant Regional Water District, from which Fort Worth purchases its water, received the assessment reports. 

For more information on source water assessments and protection efforts at our system, contact Stacy Walters at 817-392-8203.

Further details about the source water assessments are available in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Drinking Water Watch database at bit.ly/FWDWW2023.

From Raw Water to My Faucet. How Does It Get There?

Drawing from the surface water supply, Fort Worth Water undergoes a rigorous treatment process to ensure quality and purity. The process includes filtration to remove sediments and particulates, and precise disinfection to eliminate bacteria and viruses. This thorough treatment ensures that by the time water makes its way through the city's pipelines, it's of the highest quality for Fort Worth residents, reflecting our deep commitment to the community's health and well-being.

Conservation is a Water Source 

Fort Worth's water conservation programs continue to be a beacon of success amidst challenges posed by population growth and soaring summer temperatures. Since its inception in 2008, Fort Worth Water's Conservation section has spearheaded water-saving ordinances, initiatives, and forward-thinking planning, ensuring sustainable water supplies for future Fort Worth generations.

The City's proactive approach to conservation has yielded impressive results, fulfilling best management water use goals as outlined in the State Water Plan. These remarkable conservation results have paved the way for the development of the latest water conservation plan, which will guide the City of Fort Worth's goals for the next five years.

In response to rising demand for water, Fort Worth continues to expand unique conservation, education, and outreach programs supporting residential and industrial water goals. These include free monthly Water Savings Seminars and free SmartWater Assessments for commercial organizations. All programs are experiencing increased interest and attendance.

Fort Worth's water conservation programs serve as a blueprint for sustainable water management, offering accessible solutions for all. To learn more about the programs Fort Worth Water Conservation can offer, and to see the five-year conservation plan, visit SaveFortWorthWater.org.

Per capita usage: 159 gallons per day

In 2023 saved 3.1 billion gallons (includes conservation programs & industrial reuse)

Water Loss Prevention Activities Increasing

Reducing water loss in the distribution system conserves a vital resource. It also can reduce the purchased amounts of raw water, treatment chemicals and electricity. 

Fort Worth’s total water loss in 2023 was 6,648,505,163 gallons. This includes losses from main breaks and leaks, service line leaks, theft of water and meter inaccuracies. Water loss remained steady from the previous year, but has decreased as a percent of total  produced water for the last four years. 

Fort Worth adheres to a Real Water Loss Management Plan. The utility is in the midst of the five-year road map for implementing and refining water loss monitoring and control programs. 

The plan recommends increasing leak detection activities, establishing district metered areas and increasing pressure monitoring. 

If you have any questions about the 2023 water loss audit, please contact the Water Conservation group at WaterConservation@FortWorthTexas.gov.

The water distribution system is the network of pipes, storage facilities, pumps and other equipment that moves potable water from a treatment plant to customers’ homes and businesses. 

In addition to providing statistical facts about the Fort Worth water utility, this section’s goal is to explain many utility actions some people might not understand.

This section also serves to convey information about the quality of our water.

Flow Control: Managing City Water Systems

Fort Worth Water's Plant Operations section is responsible for moving and storing water throughout the system.

Once received from raw water intakes, water plants treat the water. The water is stored in a large tank, or what is called a clear well. High service pumps transfer the water out of the clear well into the distribution system for customer use.

Water is transferred into elevated and ground storage tanks within a pressure plane. All elevated tanks, often called water towers, within a pressure plane are at the same elevation. Ground storage tanks can be on high or low elevations. Those on lower elevations usually have a pump station. Ground storage tanks can function like a water tower if they are at a high enough elevation.

Water is then pumped from one pressure plane to the next pressure plane. The different pressure planes maintain water pressure for our customers throughout the distribution system. 

The team maintains and is responsible for 22 booster pump stations and five high-service pump stations. The pump stations are electrically powered to pump the water through the distribution system. The crews troubleshoot issues that the operations team monitors through the Supervisory Control & Data Aquisition (SCADA) system.

SCADA is the brains behind moving water around the city and notifying different work groups of problems encountered.

Plant Operations is also responsible for 30 tanks. The tanks are drained and cleaned annually. Crew members climb the elevated towers and use fire hoses and pumps to wash the inside of the storage area. This usually takes two days per tank.

The tank is then disinfected with chlorine and filled with water for testing. Water is held in the tank until a sample is tested. After samples prove disinfection occurred, the valves are opened for use.

The whole operation takes about four days.

Additionally, Plant Operations maintains our wholesale customer city metering sites, of which there are 71. These meters require testing from a third party to verify accuracy twice a year.

Fort Worth proudly holds the "Superior Public Water System" designation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), an honor reflecting its exceptional commitment to surpassing standard water quality and operational benchmarks. This prestigious status is awarded only after rigorous evaluations of the city's water treatment, licensed operators, storage capacities, and facility conditions, underscoring Fort Worth's dedication to excellence in public water services.

Water by the Numbers

Water quality is Fort Worth’s highest priority. Staff is dedicated to ensuring the water you drink is of the highest quality, from treatment, through storage and distribution, to your home or place of business.  

The private plumbing in homes and businesses can impact water quality.

This section includes information related to water that directly affects the homes and businesses of customers.

Fort Worth Water Lab's Compliance & Innovation

The Water Central Laboratory ensures our treated water, wastewater and reclaimed water complies with all state and federal regulations.

The sampling and analyses that the laboratory performs supports everything from permit and regulation compliance to process control for the Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility. It supports pretreatment services in their efforts in enforcing discharge regulations and addresses customer complaints about water quality.

The lab is accredited through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Unlike other public water system laboratories, Fort Worth’s lab has an additional focus. it also serves as a contract laboratory with the same breadth of clientele as any private lab in the area.

On average, 1,500 samples a month come in from other cities in the region who need to meet their own regulations as well as various government agencies and private citizens. These needs range from a simple curiosity of what’s in their water to needing well water tests to obtain VA loans.

When combined with the workload that the lab performs for the City of Fort Worth, the lab analyzes about 3,500 samples monthly. 

As part of its mission to monitor water quality, the lab strives to be on the forefront of new contaminant regulations. The most recent example is completing the development of an internal method to detect PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in drinking water.

EPA recently announced upcoming limits for six per- and polyfluo­ralkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The laboratory now has the equipment to do this testing. This allows the utility to perform regular monitoring of our water treatment plants to continue its mission of overseeing water quality.

Where Your Service Line Ends & the Utility's Begins

Understanding the division of ownership between a homeowner's property and the utility's infrastructure is crucial for maintenance and repairs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the service line is the pipe that runs from the water main under the street to where it enters a building. There is a point at which the responsibility transitions from the utility to the property owner.

In Fort Worth, this division is clear. The utility owns and maintains the portion of the service line from the main pipeline up to and including the water meter and the meter box. This means that any issues or maintenance required on this section of the pipeline fall under the utility's jurisdiction.

Beyond the meter, the responsibility shifts to the property owner. This includes the pipeline extending from the meter to the building, which could be a home or business. Additionally, the property owner is responsible for all the internal plumbing, fixtures, and related maintenance inside the building.

It's important for property owners to know where this line of demarcation lies, as any repairs on their side of the meter—such as fixing leaks or replacing old pipes—need to be addressed by the owner or a licensed plumber. On the flip side, should a leak or problem be detected on the utility's side, it's the utility's obligation to fix it.

Fort Worth Water is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the water system up to the meter. Property owners are encouraged to regularly inspect their plumbing and fixtures and to engage with licensed professionals for any required maintenance or repairs, ensuring the efficient delivery of water services throughout the community.

Fort Worth maintains more than 297,000 meters citywide.

Lead Service Line Inventory 

(Through March 2024)

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. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but we 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  www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Plumbing Materials Are Source of Lead in Water

Lead is not in the water when it leaves the treatment plant, and city water mains are not made of lead. 

Lead can dissolve into drinking water when water in pipes does not move for several hours and is in contact with plumbing materials containing lead. To help prevent this, Fort Worth manages the water’s chemistry so a scale forms on the inside of metal pipes. This process is called corrosion control. This scale serves as a barrier to keep the metals from dissolving into the water. 

Upcoming Changes to the Lead and Copper Rule

The original Lead and Copper Rule was published in 1991. In mid-October, changes are coming that will impact customers in Fort Worth and every water system in the country. Here is what you need to know.

• By Oct. 16, 2024, Fort Worth Water will post a service line material inventory map to its website and file the inventory with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The inventory will include the material type for both the public and privately-owned portions of service lines. You can search the map by your address. The map will show the service line material on each side of the water meter.

• If you own or live at a location that has a service line classified as lead or galvanized requiring replacement, you will receive a notice by U.S. mail no later than Nov. 15.

• New customers who set up new service after Oct. 16 will be told of the service line material when they establish service and then mailed the information.

• The rule sets new requirements for customer notification if the utility’s compliance testing exceeds the action level.

Fort Worth began its inventory process in 2016 and replaced any city-owned lead service lines as they were found. In all, 1,877 city-owned lead service lines were replaced.

Galvanized service lines on the customer-owned portion may be considered a health hazard, as if they are lead. This is the case when the utility cannot prove that the city-owned portion was never lead at any point in time since the service line was first installed. EPA classifies these service lines as galvanized-requiring-replacement (GRR).

Fort Worth has found 35,740 galvanized service lines on the customer side of the meter. The utility is reviewing records to determine if any city-owned service lines were ever lead.

To learn more about why galvanized plumbing is a problem, visit www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/lead.

Fort Worth also offers lead testing to its customers. To arrange for lead testing, call 817-392-4477 or email MyWaterAccount@fortworthtexas.gov.

Stay Tuned

EPA has proposed more major changes to the rule, and anticipates finalizing those changes before Oct. 16. The changes would not take effect until three years after being published in the Federal Register. Stay tuned for updates on our website.

Lead and Copper Test Results

Lead and copper are regulated by a treatment technique that requires systems to control the corrosiveness of their water.

 90th percentile value:  90 percent of the samples were at or below this value. EPA considers the 90th percentile value the same as an “average” value for other contaminants. Lead and copper are regulated by a treatment technique that requires systems to control the corrosiveness of their water. 

If more than 10 percent of tap water samples exceed the action level, water systems must take additional steps.

Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency require public water systems to provide this report to their customers. The utility must include certain information to keep customers well informed about the water they receive at home and place of work. 

In this section, you will find information about chemical and bacteriological contaminants, compliance with drinking water rules, and educational health information. In addition, it provides answers to common questions.

Abbreviations used in the data tables

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level—the highest level of a contaminant that is ­allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal—the level of a contaminant in ­drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. 

MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level—the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG: Maximum Residual ­Disinfectant Level Goal—the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

N/A: not applicable/does not apply

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit; a measure of water turbidity or ­clarity

pCi/L: Picocuries per liter; a measure of radioactivity 

ppb: Parts per billion or micrograms per liter (µg/L)

ppm: Parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

TT: Treatment Technique—a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

*Level 1 assessment: A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria were found.

*Level 2 assessment: A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an Escherichia coli (E. coli) maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria were found on multiple occasions. 

* Fort Worth was not required to conduct Lvl. 1 or Lvl 2 assessment in 2023

Microorganisms

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. It is monitored because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the filtration system.

Microorganism Testing Shows Low Detection in Raw Water

Tarrant Regional Water District monitors the raw water at all intake sites for Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia and viruses. The source is human and animal fecal waste in the watershed.

The 2023 sampling showed occasional low level detections of Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia. These are either deactivated or removed through disinfection and/or filtration during the treatment process.

Organic

Inorganic

Radionuclides

Disinfectants

Total Organic Carbon

This is a measurement of the raw water. It is used to determine disinfection by-product precursors. Fort Worth was in compliance with all monitoring and treatment technique requirements for disinfection by-product precursors. A removal ratio of 1 in Specific Ultra Violet Absorbance calculations is considered passing.

Disinfection byproducts

Unregulated disinfection byproducts

The following items are all disinfection by-products that are not regulated individually, but are regulated as two groups — Total Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids. The above chart for Disinfection Byproducts lists the regulated group levels.

Secondary constituents

Secondary contaminants do not relate to public health but rather to the aesthetic ­effects, such as taste, odor and color. These items are often important to industries.

Information About Drinking Water

Contaminants found in drinking water may cause taste, color, or odor problems. These types of problems are not necessarily causes for health concerns. For more information on taste, odor, or color of drinking water, please contact customer service at 817-392-4477.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Potential Raw Water Impurities

As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. These can include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, can come from sewer systems, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.

• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

How EPA Collects Data to Decide Future Regulations

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that once every five years EPA issue a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems. EPA fulfills this requirement through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). 

Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.

UCMR testing provides scientifically valid data on the occurrence of these contaminants in drinking water. Health research is necessary to know whether these contaminants pose a health risk.

Water systems across the country are collecting samples for the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Rule (UCMR5) during four consecutive quarters between January 2023 and December 2025. All water systems serving more than 3,300 people are required to participate in the data collection. In addition, 800 systems nationwide serving fewer than 3,300 people will participate.

Fort Worth conducted its required testing in January, April, July and October of 2023. Those results are displayed in the following charts. 

Because the North Holly Water Treatment Plant was out of service in January 2023, additional sampling was done in January 2024. That data is not found in the following charts since this report pertains to 2023 water quality. The additional results can be found on our website at www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/drinking-water/ucmr.

For the UCMR5, EPA selected 29 per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) and one metal/pharmaceutical—lithium.  

PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products and industrial applications. These include:

• non-stick cookware
• water-repellent clothing
• stain-resistant fabrics and carpets
• cosmetics
• firefighting foams
• electroplating
• products that resist grease, water, and oil

PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals and in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the United States and the world. 

Fort Worth detected seven different PFAS compounds, but not all seven in the finished water from all facilities. 

Lithium and 22 PFAS compounds were not detected. 

Before having all the data, EPA recently finalized regulations for six PFAS compounds. Fort Worth is in the process of conducting a treatability study to determine what type of additional treatment is required to meet the new limits. The new limits are not enforceable until five years after the rule is published in the Federal Register. More information about Fort Worth’s efforts related to PFAS can be found at www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/drinking-water/pfas.

UCMR5 Compounds Not Detected in Fort Worth's Water

UCMR5: Overall

UCMR5: North Holly Water Treatment Plant

UCMR5: South Holly Water Treatment Plant

UCMR5: Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant

UCMR5: Rolling Hills Water Treatment Plant

UCMR5: Westside Water Treatment Plant

*included in new regulation

Environmental Protection Agency 

www.epa.gov 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

www.tceq.texas.gov 

Texas Water Development Board

www.twdb.texas.gov 

American Water Works Association

www.awwa.org 

Drink Tap

www.drinktap.org