Dallas, Texas. The city known for the Cowboys, the Mavericks, and the unique skyline. Dallas is also the largest metropolis that does not have a navigational water system. Without a proper water source, what is the Dallas, Texas water quality like? The answer: not the best. Here is what we know about the water quality in America’s ninth largest city.
What Can We Learn From Water Quality?
Water quality tells us if our drinking water contains contaminants that may cripple our health. Some harmful contaminants can come from the natural environment, such as microbial contaminants in soil or metals in rocks. Other harmful contaminants come from human sources, such as fertilizers, pesticides, industrial, and even household wastes.
These contaminants can lead to different health problems, such as:
- Nervous system issues
- Development and behavioral issues in children
- Hormone disruption, leading to fertility issues
- Cancer
Everyone uses water on a daily, consistent basis. We use it not only to drink, but to bathe in, wash our clothes, and water our gardens. We cook with it and clean our fresh fruits and vegetables. The presence of contaminants in drinking water is not always a health risk in which you need to alert health officials. It is just important to know exactly what is in your water. The key to water health is being proactive instead of reactive. If you aren’t using a home water filtration system, you and your family could be exposed to these contaminants on a daily basis.
The following data is provided by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Their website allows you to enter your zip code and get the proper reading for the city that you live in based off their test results. Below are three of the most populous Dallas suburbs and their water test results. The EWG guidelines remind users that even if their water is considered legal, it does not mean that the water is safe.
Arlington, Texas Water Quality
- Arsenic is 164 times greater than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Bromate is 11 times higher than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Bromochloroacetic acid is 169 times more than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Bromodichloromethane is 64 times above the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Chloroform is 9.6 times higher than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Dibromoacetic acid is 65 times higher than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Dibromochloromethane is 37 times above the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Dichloroacetic acid is 23 times higher than the EWG’s Health Guideline
- Haloacetic Acids are 89 times more than the EWG Health Guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)† are 81 times higher than the EWG Health Guideline
Garland, Texas Water Quality
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Arsenic is at 52 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Bromochloroacetic acid is 395 times higher than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Bromodichloromethane is 83 times more than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Chloroform is at 31 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dibromoacetic acid is at 75 times higher than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dibromochloromethane is at 72 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dichloroacetic acid is found at 68 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Haloacetic acids (HAA5) is at 227 times more than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) is 217 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Trichloroacetic acid is 39 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
Richardson, Texas Water Quality
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Arsenic showed at 52 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Bromochloroacetic acid is 443 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Bromodichloromethane is 192 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Chloroform is 31 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dibromoacetic acid is 85 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dibromochloromethane is 76 times higher than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Dichloroacetic acid is 67 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Haloacetic acids (HAA5) is 235 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) is224 times more than EWG’s Health Guideline.
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Trichloroacetic acid is 40 times above EWG’s Health Guideline.
How to Improve Your Water
These contaminants are just a few examples of what is actually found in your water. If you are discouraged, please know that we are here to provide you a free water test so that you can test your tap water yourself. It is important to be informed and then you can make the choice to install a filtration system.
Another way to push for cleaner water for everyone is to advocate to the elected officials who have a say in water quality — talk to your HOA, your city hall, and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office — by asking questions and demanding answers, just like the well-known Erin Brockovich did.
Our team at ONIT is dedicated to providing Texans with clean water. This starts at home! We are here to help you through any questions or concerns you might have. Give us a call today at 1-833-433-0331. Our team of experts is here to help you!