National Drinking Water Database

• Read the Research
• Get a Water Filter
• Tips for Safe Water
• FAQs
• EWG Needs Your Help. As little as $5 can help.

City of Paint Rock - Paint Rock, TX

---

Serves 320 people - Test data available: 2004-2007

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality . It is part of EWG's national database that includes 47,667 drinking water utilities and 20 million test results. Water utilities nationwide detected more than 300 pollutants between 2004 and 2009. More than half of these chemicals are unregulated, legal in any amount. Despite this widespread contamination, the federal government invests few resources to protecting rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater from pollution in the first place. The information below summarizes test results for this utility and lists potential health concerns.

	This Drinking Water System	National Average
Exceed Health GuidelinesTests showing chemicals at concentrations above health guidelines established by federal and state health agencies. These guidelines are typically set at a levels that pose no significant health risk.	16 chemicals	4
Health Standard ExceedencesChemicals detected at concentrations above the legal limit, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) established by the U.S. EPA. Most MCLs are based on annual averages, so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.	11 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	27 chemicals	8
Tests ConductedThe total number of number of water quality tests conducted by water utilities and recorded in data provided by the state water agency.	494 tests	420

Contaminants Exceeding Health Guidelines

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
DibromochloromethaneDibromochloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	105.73 ppb 203 ppb	Yes 0.4 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
BromoformBromoform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	91.1 ppb 174.2 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
Monochloroacetic acidMonochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	45.62 ppb 178.7 ppb	Yes 70 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
BromodichloromethaneBromodichloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	62.12 ppb 158.1 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
Dibromoacetic acidDibromoacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	35.44 ppb 92.1 ppb	Yes	Yes 60 ppb
Total haloacetic acids (HAAs)Total haloacetic acids refers to the sum of the concentrations of five related disinfection byproducts in a water sample: dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.	40.3 ppb 117 ppb	Yes 0.7 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
AluminumAluminum is a metal released from metal refineries and mining operations.	292 ppb 450 ppb	Yes 200 ppb	Yes 200 ppb
Dichloroacetic acidDichloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	17.94 ppb 64.4 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 60 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	67.08 ppb 232 ppb	Yes 9.8 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
NitrateNitrate enters drinking water sources from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits; it is also emitted by chemical, petrochemical and metal-finishing industries.	4.4 ppm 21.09 ppm	Yes 10 ppm	Yes 10 ppm
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	13.1 pCi/L 13.1 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	Yes 5 pCi/L
ChloroformChloroform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	19.37 ppb 54.3 ppb	Yes 5.7 ppb	No 80 ppb
Trichloroacetic acidTrichloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	12.74 ppb 42.5 ppb	Yes 20 ppb	No 60 ppb
Arsenic (total)Arsenic contaminates drinking water due to mining runoff, erosion of natural deposits, emissions from glass and electronics processing and the use of arsenical compounds as wood preservatives and pesticides.	3.88 ppb 5.24 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 10 ppb
Lead (total)Lead is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge of industrial pollution and erosion of natural deposits.	0.5 ppb 1.5 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No
Alpha particle activityAlpha particles are a form of radiation released from mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	3.6 pCi/L 3.6 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 15 pCi/L
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Other Detected Contaminants

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
Bromochloroacetic acidBromochloroacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	22.78 ppb 46.1 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Monobromoacetic acidMonobromoacetic acid is a disinfection byproduct regulated by EPA as one of five haloacetic acids that are formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	5.16 ppb 13.2 ppb	No	No 60 ppb
Barium (total)Barium is a mineral that enters drinking water through drilling and mining waste runoff, discharges from chemical industries and erosion of natural deposits.	145 ppb 189 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
CopperCopper is a naturally occuring metal and drinking water contaminant that enters tap water by corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.	17.33 ppb 18.4 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 1000 ppb
ManganeseManganese is a naturally occurring element released from mineral deposits as well as industrial use.	4.12 ppb 6.7 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
Selenium (total)Selenium is a naturally occurring element that contaminates water due to mining or petrolum refining, fly-ash from coal-burning power plants, and irrigation of arid farmland soils high in selenium.	6.17 ppb 11.8 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
AcetoneAcetone is a ubiquitous industrial solvent and chemical intermediate used in manufacture of plastic, fibers, cosmetics, photographic film and many other kinds of consumer goods.	12.85 ppb 17 ppb	No 6000 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	0.95 ppb 2.85 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
DichloroacetonitrileDichloroacetonitrile is an unregulated byproduct of tap water disinfection that forms when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	5.4 ppb 5.4 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
ChloroacetonitrileChloroacetonitrile is a synthetic chemical primarily used as an intermediate to produce insecticides and pharmaceuticals.	1.7 ppb 1.7 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)Beta particles are a form of radiation frequently associated with nuclear testing and radioactive mineral deposits.	8.7 pCi/L 8.7 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Contaminants Not Detected - 137 chemicals

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2 Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2,3,3,4,4,6-heptachlorobiphenyl, 2,2,3,4,6-pentachlorobiphenyl, 2,2,4,4,5,6-hexachlorobiphenyl, 2,2,4,4-tetrachlorobiphenyl, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,3,3,4,5,6,6-octachlorobiphenyl, 2-Hexanone, Acenaphthene, Acenaphthylene, Acrylonitrile, Alachlor (Lasso), Aldrin, Alpha Chlordane, Alpha, Dissolved, Anthracene, Antimony (total), Aroclor 1016, Aroclor 1221, Aroclor 1232, Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1248, Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1260, Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Beryllium (total), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Bromacil, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Butyl Benzylphthalate, Cadmium (total), Carbon tetrachloride, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, Chrysene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Combined Uranium (mg/L), Dalapon, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Di-n-butylphthalate, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene, Dibromomethane, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dieldrin, Diethylphthalate, Dimethylphthalate, Endrin, Ethyl Methacrylate, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Fluorene, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Iodomethane, Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m- & p- Xylene, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Methoxychlor, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Methyl methacrylate, Methyl Parathion, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Mtbe, n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, Nitrite, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, o-Xylene, p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Parathion (ethyl), Pentachlorophenol, Phenanthrene, Prometon, Propachlor, Pyrene, Radium-228, sec-Butylbenzene, Silver (total), Simazine, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Tetrahydrofuran, Thallium (total), Toluene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trans-Nonachlor, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Trifluralin, Uranium--234 (pCi/L), Uranium-238, Uranium-238 (pCi/L), Vinyl acetate, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Pollution Summary

27	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2007) Aluminum, Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Copper, Lead (total), Manganese, Nitrate, Selenium (total), Acetone, Monochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Dichloroacetonitrile, Chloroacetonitrile, Chloroform, Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Radium-226, Alpha particle activity, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
4	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Arsenic (total), Nitrate, Selenium (total), Chloroacetonitrile
5	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Arsenic (total), Copper, Lead (total), Nitrate, Acetone
13	Industrial Pollutants Aluminum, Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Chromium (total), Lead (total), Manganese, Nitrate, Selenium (total), Acetone, Chloroacetonitrile, Radium-226, Alpha particle activity, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
13	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Dibromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Bromochloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Dichloroacetonitrile
12	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Nitrate, Copper, Barium (total), Lead (total), Arsenic (total), Manganese, Radium-226, Alpha particle activity, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Chromium (total), Aluminum, Selenium (total)
5	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Lead (total), Acetone, Bromochloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetonitrile, Chloroacetonitrile

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
MCL and Treatment (click see violations)close	25
Violation Date of Violation Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/01/01 - 2005/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/04/01 - 2005/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/07/01 - 2005/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Single Sample Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/03/01 - 2005/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Single Sample Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/03/01 - 2005/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/01/01 - 2006/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/01/01 - 2006/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2005/10/01 - 2005/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/04/01 - 2006/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2006/07/01 - 2006/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2006/07/01 - 2006/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/01/01 - 2008/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2008/04/01 - 2008/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2008/04/01 - 2008/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2004/04/01 - 2004/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2004/04/01 - 2004/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2004/07/01 - 2004/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Total haloacetic acids (HAAs) 2005/01/01 - 2005/03/31
Reporting (click see violations)close	2
Violation Date of Violation Filter Turbidity Reporting 2005/02/01 - 2005/02/28 Filter Turbidity Reporting 2004/03/01 - 2004/03/31

Information on violations is drawn directly from EPA's national violations database in the Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System. Analyses by others have raised questions about the quality of the information in EPA's database. For the purposes of this investigation, EWG is not showing below or including in our analyses, those violations for individual water suppliers that occurred on days for which the total number of violations assigned by EPA to that water supplier was greater than 20. This criteria was based on common characteristics of incorrect violations data as identified by water utilities, from a review of EPA's violations data by several hundred utilities prior to the release of EWG's investigation.