PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS TX2270235

West Travis County Public Utility Agency

Austin, Texas 78738-0055 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 28,215 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

28,215
People served
42
EPA violations
20
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 42 drinking-water violations at West Travis County Public Utility Agency, 48% of them health-based - below the Texas per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

42
Total EPA violations on record
48%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
28,215
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: West Travis County Public Utility Agency

West Travis County Public Utility Agency is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 28,215 residents in Austin, Texas (Travis County) through 15,978 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 42 total violations for this system , of which 20 (48%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 12 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 12 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.5 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%).

West Travis County Public Utility Agency's 42 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
28,215
Total Violations
42
Health-Based Violations
20
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
15,978
County
Travis
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
7
Monitoring Violations
12
Treatment Tech Violations
13

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 12 2018
Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 2005
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 2017
Public Notice Other 5 2013
CARBON, TOTAL MR 4 2023
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 2002
Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 1 1993
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 1 1993
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 1 2003

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
6:2 FTS 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/10/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/10/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/10/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/10/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/10/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/10/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/10/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/10/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/10/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/28/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/28/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/28/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/28/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/28/2024 6.50 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 5/28/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/28/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/28/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/28/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/28/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/28/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/28/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/28/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/28/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 West Travis County Public Utility Agency.

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 TX2270235 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 West Travis County Public Utility Agency 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
2023 CARBON, TOTAL MR 4 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 2920
2018 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 12 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 0300
2017 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 5000
2013 Public Notice Other 5 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 7500
2005 Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 3100
2003 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 1 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 0300
2002 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 2 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 0200
1993 Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 1 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 0200
1993 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 1 SDWIS / TX2270235 / 0200

How West Travis County Public Utility Agency Compares

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

Metric West Travis County Public Utility Agency Texas avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 42 101.5 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 20 22.2 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 93.1% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 28,215 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 West Travis County Public Utility Agency water safe to drink?
West Travis County Public Utility Agency (PWS ID: TX2270235) has 42 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 28,215 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does West Travis County Public Utility Agency serve?
West Travis County Public Utility Agency serves 28,215 people in Austin, Texas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 15,978 service connections.
What type of violations does West Travis County Public Utility Agency have?
West Travis County Public Utility Agency has 42 total violations: 20 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 12 monitoring/reporting violations, and 13 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in West Travis County Public Utility Agency water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in West Travis County Public Utility Agency's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does West Travis County Public Utility Agency use?
West Travis County Public Utility Agency 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.
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.