CITY OF CHILDRESS

Q: Is CITY OF CHILDRESS water safe to drink?

CITY OF CHILDRESS (PWS ID: TX0380001) has 174 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 6,105 people using Surface Water sources.

Q: How many people does CITY OF CHILDRESS serve?

CITY OF CHILDRESS serves 6,105 people in CHILDRESS, Texas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,250 service connections.

Q: What type of violations does CITY OF CHILDRESS have?

CITY OF CHILDRESS has 174 total violations: 42 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 77 monitoring/reporting violations, and 13 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in CITY OF CHILDRESS water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in CITY OF CHILDRESS's water supply: lithium, PFPeA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

Q: What water source does CITY OF CHILDRESS use?

CITY OF CHILDRESS uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: 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.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

PWS ID: TX0380001 · CHILDRESS, Texas 79201-1087

CITY OF CHILDRESS serves 6,105 people in CHILDRESS, Texas using Surface Water water sources. It has 174 recorded EPA violations, including 42 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (5 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: CITY OF CHILDRESS

CITY OF CHILDRESS is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,105 residents in CHILDRESS, Texas (Childress County) through 2,250 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 174 total violations for this system , of which 42 (24%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 77 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 49 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 50.9 ppt. 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. CITY OF CHILDRESS's 174 violations sit above the Texas average. Statewide, 1,068 of 1,147 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (93.1%). 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

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

Population Served

6,105

Total Violations

174

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Surface Water

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 2,250
County: Childress
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 29
Monitoring Violations: 77
Treatment Tech Violations: 13

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	49	2025
Public Notice	Other	26	2025
TTHM	MCL	20	2025
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	16	2024
Chlorine	MR	12	2015
Coliform (TCR)	MR	12	2015
Lead and Copper Rule	TT	10	2013
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	9	2015
TTHM	MR	4	2018
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	RPT	3	2024
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	TT	3	2024

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 9 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFTA	9/13/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	9/13/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/13/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	9/13/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/13/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/13/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	9/13/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/13/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	9/13/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	9/13/2023	40.3000 µg/L	9 µg/L	Detected
PFHxA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	9/13/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	9/13/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	9/13/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/13/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/13/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/13/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/13/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	6/14/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	6/14/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	6/14/2023	0.0040 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFMPA	6/14/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	6/14/2023	0.0047 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
lithium	6/14/2023	43.4000 µg/L	9 µg/L	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 CITY OF CHILDRESS.

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 TX0380001 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 CITY OF CHILDRESS 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
2025	Lead and Copper Rule	MR	49	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 5000
2025	Public Notice	Other	26	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 7500
2025	TTHM	MCL	20	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 2950
2024	Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	16	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 7000
2024	LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	RPT	3	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 5200
2024	LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	TT	3	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 5200
2018	TTHM	MR	4	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 2950
2015	Chlorine	MR	12	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 0999
2015	Coliform (TCR)	MR	12	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 3100
2015	Coliform (TCR)	MCL	9	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 3100
2013	Lead and Copper Rule	TT	10	SDWIS / TX0380001 / 5000

How CITY OF CHILDRESS Compares

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

Metric	CITY OF CHILDRESS	Texas avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	174	101.5	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	42	22.2	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	5 compounds	93.1%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	6,105	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
Nitrate (as N)	10 mg/L	Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CITY OF CHILDRESS water safe to drink? ▼

CITY OF CHILDRESS (PWS ID: TX0380001) has 174 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 6,105 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does CITY OF CHILDRESS serve? ▼

CITY OF CHILDRESS serves 6,105 people in CHILDRESS, Texas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,250 service connections.

What type of violations does CITY OF CHILDRESS have? ▼

CITY OF CHILDRESS has 174 total violations: 42 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 77 monitoring/reporting violations, and 13 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in CITY OF CHILDRESS water? ▼

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in CITY OF CHILDRESS's water supply: lithium, PFPeA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does CITY OF CHILDRESS use? ▼

CITY OF CHILDRESS 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.

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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.

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