Quick answer: Houston's water is supplied by Houston Public Works and has a hardness level of Hard. The primary contaminant of concern is chromium-6. Compliant but chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts exceed EWG health guidelines. For the best protection, I recommend the AquaTru reverse osmosis system ($475) or the Clearly Filtered pitcher ($90) as a budget pick.
What's in Houston's Water?
Houston's drinking water comes from Houston Public Works, which serves the metro area's 7,300,000 residents. While the utility meets most federal EPA standards, meeting the minimum legal requirement doesn't always mean the water is as clean as you'd want for your family.
Here are the known contaminants and concerns for Houston's water supply:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Water Utility | Houston Public Works |
| Key Contaminant | chromium-6 |
| Water Hardness | Hard |
| Known Issues | chromium-6, disinfection byproducts, arsenic, radium, aging infrastructure |
| EPA Status | Compliant but chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts exceed EWG health guidelines. |
Why chromium-6 Matters
Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) is classified as a known human carcinogen when inhaled and a likely carcinogen in drinking water. California set a public health goal of 0.02 ppb, though the federal EPA has no standard.
This is especially important for families with young children, pregnant women, or anyone with a compromised immune system. Children absorb contaminants at higher rates than adults, and their developing bodies are more vulnerable to the effects.
Check Your Specific Address
Water quality can vary within Houston depending on which part of the distribution system serves your home, the age of your pipes, and whether you have lead service lines. I recommend two steps:
- Use our free Water Quality Lookup tool - Enter your ZIP code here to check EPA violation records for your specific area.
- Test your tap water - A home water test kit like Tap Score ($150-200) will tell you exactly what's in the water coming out of your faucet, which can be different from what the utility reports.
Best Water Filters for Houston
Based on Houston's specific contaminant profile, here's what I recommend:
Top Pick: AquaTru Countertop RO
The AquaTru is a countertop reverse osmosis system that removes 84 contaminants including chromium-6, lead, PFAS, fluoride, and microplastics. No plumbing required.
- NSF/ANSI certified
- Removes 99.9% of PFAS
- Countertop - no installation
- $475 (filters last 6-12 months)
Budget Pick: Clearly Filtered Pitcher
The Clearly Filtered pitcher removes 365+ contaminants including chromium-6 and PFAS. It's the best pitcher filter I've tested.
- WQA certified for PFAS removal
- Removes 99.7% of PFAS
- No installation needed
- $90 (replacement filters ~$30 every 4 months)
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's water is supplied by Houston Public Works. Compliant but chromium-6 and disinfection byproducts exceed EWG health guidelines. While it may meet EPA minimum standards, those standards don't cover all contaminants of concern. For families with young children, I recommend using a certified water filter as an extra layer of protection.
Known contaminants in Houston's water include chromium-6, disinfection byproducts, arsenic, radium, aging infrastructure. The most significant concern is chromium-6. You can check your specific area using our Water Quality Lookup tool.
Based on Houston's contaminant profile, I recommend reverse osmosis (like AquaTru), which removes 96-99% of chromium-6. My top pick is the AquaTru ($475) for comprehensive protection, or the Clearly Filtered pitcher ($90) for a budget option.
Houston's water is classified as hard. Hard water can cause mineral buildup on fixtures, dry out skin and hair, and reduce soap effectiveness.