Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Plano?
Yes, tap water in Plano is safe to drink. The city buys treated water from the North Texas Municipal Water District, sourced from Lavon Lake and other reservoirs, and it meets all EPA standards.
Water Source
Plano purchases treated water from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), which draws on Lavon Lake, Lake Texoma, Jim Chapman Lake and the Bois d'Arc Lake reservoir, plus the East Fork Raw Water Supply Project — a huge constructed wetland that naturally polishes reused Trinity River water.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. NTMWD holds a 'Superior' rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Disinfection byproducts from warm reservoir water are monitored and within limits
- •Each spring NTMWD runs a temporary chlorine maintenance period that noticeably changes taste and odor for a few weeks — a routine practice, not a contamination event
- •Zebra mussels in Lake Texoma required infrastructure changes but don't affect finished water safety
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: North Texas Municipal Water District 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.6 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.68 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.3 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 0.76 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 33.4 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 22.9 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Plano's wholesale supply is shared with dozens of fast-growing Collin County suburbs, and NTMWD's wetland-based water reuse project is one of the largest of its kind in the country — a model for stretching supply in booming North Texas.
Tips
- •The stronger chlorine taste for a few weeks each spring is the district's routine maintenance flush; chilling or carbon-filtering removes it
- •NTMWD and Plano both publish annual quality reports
- •No safety filter is needed
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