Community Water System · PWS TX1050003
Texas State University - San Marcos
San Marcos, Texas 78666-4684 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 43,552 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 43,552
- People served
- 52
- EPA violations
- 3
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 52 drinking-water violations at Texas State University - San Marcos, 6% of them health-based - below the Texas per-system average.
- 52
- Total EPA violations on record
- 6%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 43,552
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Texas State University - San Marcos
Texas State University - San Marcos is a state-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 43,552 residents in San Marcos, Texas (Hays County) through 2,502 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 52 total violations for this system , of which 3 (6%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 34 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 21 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
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%).
Texas State University - San Marcos's 52 violations sit below 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.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- State
- Connections
- 2,502
- County
- Hays
- School/Daycare
- Yes
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 34
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 3
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 21 | 2016 |
| Public Notice | Other | 13 | 2015 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 8 | 2018 |
| E. COLI | MR | 5 | 2012 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | TT | 3 | 2015 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFNA | 4/9/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 4/9/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/9/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/9/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/9/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/9/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/9/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/9/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 4/9/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 4/9/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 4/9/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 4/9/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 4/9/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 10/17/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 10/17/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 10/17/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 10/17/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 10/17/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 10/17/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 10/17/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 10/17/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 10/17/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 10/17/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 10/17/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 10/17/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 10/17/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not 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 Texas State University - San Marcos.
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 TX1050003 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Texas Drinking Water Authority
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Drinking Water Watch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Texas State University - San Marcos under EPA-delegated authority.
Open TX regulator portalSource: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | MON | 8 | SDWIS / TX1050003 / 8000 |
| 2016 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 21 | SDWIS / TX1050003 / 5000 |
| 2015 | Public Notice | Other | 13 | SDWIS / TX1050003 / 7500 |
| 2015 | Lead and Copper Rule | TT | 3 | SDWIS / TX1050003 / 5000 |
| 2012 | E. COLI | MR | 5 | SDWIS / TX1050003 / 3014 |
How Texas State University - San Marcos Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Texas State University - San Marcos | Texas avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 52 | 101.5 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 3 | 22.2 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 93.1% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 43,552 | 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 Texas State University - San Marcos water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Texas State University - San Marcos serve? ▼
What type of violations does Texas State University - San Marcos have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Texas State University - San Marcos water? ▼
What water source does Texas State University - San Marcos use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.