Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Arlington?
Yes, tap water in Arlington is safe to drink. The city treats raw water from Tarrant Regional Water District reservoirs at two of its own plants, and the supply meets all EPA standards.
Water Source
Arlington Water Utilities treats raw water purchased from the Tarrant Regional Water District — drawn mainly from Cedar Creek and Richland–Chambers Reservoirs in East Texas plus West Fork Trinity River lakes — at the city's Pierce-Burch and John F. Kubala water treatment plants.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards and holds a 'Superior' rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Disinfection byproducts from warm-climate reservoir water are the main routine watch item and are kept within EPA limits
- •Seasonal algae in the reservoirs can cause brief earthy taste-and-odor events, which are harmless
- •PFAS monitoring under the EPA's national rule has not shown compliance problems in the TRWD supply
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: City of Arlington Water Utilities 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.8 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.68 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 3.1 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 1.4 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 36.8 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 24.7 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Arlington sits in the same Tarrant Regional Water District raw-water pool as Fort Worth, so source quality is essentially identical; the cities differ only in their own treatment plants, and both maintain full compliance.
Tips
- •Brief earthy tastes in late summer come from reservoir algae and are cosmetic
- •The annual water quality report covers both city treatment plants
- •No filter is needed for safety
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality