Overview
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
- Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
- Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
- The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
AquaPura's analysis shows 9 contaminant(s) detected in Austin Utilities's water exceed recommended health guidelines, though they may be within legal limits set by the EPA.
Contaminants Detected
Bromodichloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.717 ppb
No Legal Limit
12x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
Chloroform
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 1.8 ppb
No Legal Limit
4.5x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.4 ppb
0.4 ppb
Dibromochloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.333 ppb
No Legal Limit
3.3x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.217 ppb
Legal Limit: 60 ppb
2.2x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.603 ppb
No Legal Limit
10x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
This Utility: 0.445 ppm
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
3.2x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.14 ppb
0.14 ppb
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.204 ppt
Legal Limit: 4 ppb
2.3x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.09 ppb
0.09 ppb
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 2.42 ppb
Legal Limit: 5 ppb
48x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.05 ppb
0.05 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 2.85 ppb
Legal Limit: 80 ppb
19x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.15 ppb
0.15 ppb
This Utility: 0.117 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
Find a Filter
See which water filtration technologies are effective at reducing the contaminants detected in this utility's water supply.
Carbon Filters
Filters 7 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+2 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Lower upfront cost
- Reduced maintenance
Cons
- Does not remove all contaminants
Reverse Osmosis
Filters 9 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+9 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Most effective
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires more maintenance
- Wastes water
Other Considerations
Ion Exchange
PROS: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants
CONS: Doesn't remove all contaminants
Whole-House Filters
PROS: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE
CONS: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination
Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants.
| Contaminant | Activated Carbon | Reverse Osmosis | Ion Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminants Above Health Guidelines | |||
| Bromodichloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chloroform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Dibromochloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9)* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Nitrate | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Other Contaminants Detected | |||
| Barium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cobalt | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dichloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Fluoride | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Lithium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manganese | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Molybdenum | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Selenium | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Strontium* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
Protect your family's health.
Don't wait for your utility to improve. Get a free water analysis from AquaPura and find the right filtration system for your home.