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Community Water System · PWS TX2390001

City of Brenham

Brenham, Texas 77834-1059 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 18,469 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

18,469
People served
56
EPA violations
15
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 56 drinking-water violations at City of Brenham, 27% of them health-based - below the Texas per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

56
Total EPA violations on record
27%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
18,469
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: City of Brenham

City of Brenham is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 18,469 residents in Brenham, Texas (Washington County) through 10,402 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 56 total violations for this system , of which 15 (27%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 36 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Chlorite, recorded in 8 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 98.5 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%).

City of Brenham's 56 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

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

Population Served
18,469
Total Violations
56
Health-Based Violations
15
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
10,402
County
Washington
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
15
Monitoring Violations
36
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Chlorite MCL 8 2016
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2014
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 2018
Chlorine dioxide MR 4 2022
Chlorite MR 4 2022
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 3 2016
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 1 2011
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 2011
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 2011
Carbon tetrachloride MR 1 2011
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 1 2011
Trichloroethylene MR 1 2011
CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2011
Benzene MR 1 2011
Toluene MR 1 2011
Styrene MR 1 2011
TTHM MR 1 2011
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 2011
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 1 2011
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 2011
Vinyl chloride MR 1 2011
Ethylbenzene MR 1 2011
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 1 2011
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 1 2011
Xylenes, Total MR 1 2011
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 1 2011
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 2011
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 1 2011
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1991
Tetrachloroethylene MR 1 2011

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 8/21/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/21/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/21/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/21/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/22/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/22/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/22/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/22/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/22/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/22/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/22/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/22/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/22/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 2/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 2/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 2/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 2/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 2/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 2/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 2/13/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 2/13/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 2/13/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 2/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 2/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 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 City of Brenham.

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 TX2390001 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 Brenham 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
2022 Chlorine dioxide MR 4 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 1008
2022 Chlorite MR 4 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 1009
2018 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 0300
2016 Chlorite MCL 8 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 1009
2016 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 3 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2456
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 3100
2011 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2964
2011 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2968
2011 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2979
2011 Carbon tetrachloride MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2982
2011 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2983
2011 Trichloroethylene MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2984
2011 CHLOROBENZENE MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2989
2011 Benzene MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2990
2011 Toluene MR 1 SDWIS / TX2390001 / 2991

How City of Brenham Compares

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

Metric City of Brenham Texas avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 56 101.5 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 15 22.2 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 93.1% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 18,469 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 City of Brenham water safe to drink? ▼
City of Brenham (PWS ID: TX2390001) has 56 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 18,469 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does City of Brenham serve? ▼
City of Brenham serves 18,469 people in Brenham, Texas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 10,402 service connections.
What type of violations does City of Brenham have? ▼
City of Brenham has 56 total violations: 15 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 36 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in City of Brenham water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in City of Brenham's water supply: PFBA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does City of Brenham use? ▼
City of Brenham 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.