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Community Water System · PWS TX0310005

Laguna Madre Water District

Port Isabel, Texas 78578-2404 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 46,341 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

46,341
People served
140
EPA violations
98
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 140 drinking-water violations at Laguna Madre Water District, 70% of them health-based - above the Texas per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

140
Total EPA violations on record
70%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
46,341
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Laguna Madre Water District

Laguna Madre Water District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 46,341 residents in Port Isabel, Texas (Cameron County) through 6,474 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 140 total violations for this system , of which 98 (70%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 15 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2019.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 55 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 14.3 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Texas, EPA tracks 7,351 public water systems serving 33,253,313 people, with 746,210 cumulative violations and 162,945 health-based violations on record. About 90% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 101.5 violations. Statewide, 1,068 of 1,147 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (93.1%).

Laguna Madre Water District's 140 violations sit above the Texas average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

3 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
46,341
Total Violations
140
Health-Based Violations
98
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,474
County
Cameron
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
79
Monitoring Violations
15
Treatment Tech Violations
19

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 55 2015
Coliform (TCR) MCL 24 2014
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 17 2014
Public Notice Other 12 2014
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 2016
Chlorite MR 4 2019
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 2002
Asbestos MR 2 2004
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2012
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 1993
TTHM MR 1 2009
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 2009

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 10 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTA 8/31/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/31/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/31/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/31/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/31/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/31/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/31/2023 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/31/2023 7.50 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Laguna Madre Water District.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID TX0310005 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Texas Drinking Water Authority

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Drinking Water Watch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Laguna Madre Water District under EPA-delegated authority.

Open TX regulator portal

Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Drinking Water Watch

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2019 Chlorite MR 4 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 1009
2016 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 5000
2015 TTHM MCL 55 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 2950
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 24 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 3100
2014 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 17 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 0300
2014 Public Notice Other 12 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 7500
2012 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 7000
2009 TTHM MR 1 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 2950
2009 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 2456
2004 Asbestos MR 2 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 1094
2002 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 0200
1993 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / TX0310005 / 0200

How Laguna Madre Water District Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Laguna Madre Water District Texas avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 140 101.5 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 98 22.2 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 93.1% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 46,341 4,524 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 7,351 regulated public water systems in Texas.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laguna Madre Water District water safe to drink? ▼
Laguna Madre Water District (PWS ID: TX0310005) has 140 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 46,341 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Laguna Madre Water District serve? ▼
Laguna Madre Water District serves 46,341 people in Port Isabel, Texas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 6,474 service connections.
What type of violations does Laguna Madre Water District have? ▼
Laguna Madre Water District has 140 total violations: 98 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 15 monitoring/reporting violations, and 19 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Laguna Madre Water District water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Laguna Madre Water District's water supply: PFPeA, PFBA, PFHxA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Laguna Madre Water District use? ▼
Laguna Madre Water District uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.