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Mary Francis Subdivision - Houston, TX

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Serves 1,506 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.	6 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.	3 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	13 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.	180 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*
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	10.74 pCi/L 14.4 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
Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)Beta particles are a form of radiation frequently associated with nuclear testing and radioactive mineral deposits.	31.16 pCi/L 43.6 pCi/L	Yes	Yes 15 pCi/L
Alpha particle activityAlpha particles are a form of radiation released from mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	33.6 pCi/L 35.9 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 15 pCi/L
Combined Uranium (mg/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed uranium ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	26.42 ppb 29.6 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 30 ppb
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.74 pCi/L 1.35 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 5 pCi/L
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.	2.7 ppb 2.7 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
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*
Uranium-234 (pCi/L)	10.62 pCi/L 12.2 pCi/L	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Uranium-238 (pCi/L)	0.23 pCi/L 0.6 pCi/L	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
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.	0.28 ppm 0.28 ppm	No 10 ppm	No 10 ppm
Combined Uranium (pCi/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	19.63 pCi/L 20 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
Alpha, DissolvedAlpha particles are a form of radiation associated with mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	19.15 pCi/L 20.4 pCi/L	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
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.	257.5 ppb 257.5 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 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.	7.05 ppb 7.05 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
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 - 26 chemicals

Aluminum, Antimony (total), Beryllium (total), Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Cadmium (total), Chloroform, Chromium (total), Copper, Cyanide, Dalapon, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Lead (total), Manganese, Mercury (total inorganic), Monobromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Nitrite, Silver (total), Thallium (total), Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid

Pollution Summary

13	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2007) Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Nitrate, Selenium (total), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha, Dissolved, Alpha particle activity, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Uranium-234 (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
3	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Arsenic (total), Nitrate, Selenium (total)
2	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Arsenic (total), Nitrate
11	Industrial Pollutants Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Nitrate, Selenium (total), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha, Dissolved, Alpha particle activity, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
0	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts)
11	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Arsenic (total), Barium (total), Nitrate, Selenium (total), Combined Uranium (mg/L), Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha, Dissolved, Alpha particle activity, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)
3	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Alpha, Dissolved, Uranium-234 (pCi/L), Uranium-238 (pCi/L)

EPA Violation Summary

Violation Category	Number of Violations
MCL and Treatment (click see violations)close	18
Violation Date of Violation Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2005/01/01 - 2005/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2006/01/01 - 2006/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity 2006/01/01 - 2006/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2007/01/01 - 2007/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2007/04/01 - 2007/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2007/10/01 - 2007/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2007/01/01 - 2007/03/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2007/04/01 - 2007/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2007/07/01 - 2007/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2007/10/01 - 2007/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Single Sample Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2004/03/01 - 2004/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Single Sample Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2004/03/01 - 2004/06/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2004/01/01 - 2004/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2004/01/01 - 2004/09/30 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2004/10/01 - 2004/12/31 Over maximum contaminant level, Average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 2005/01/01 - 2005/12/31

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.