Important Notice: Elevated Levels of Arsenic Detected in Harris County WCID 114’s Water Supply – No Immediate Risk
HARRIS COUNTY WCID 114
PWS ID NO. TX1010317
September 30, 2023
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the HARRIS COUNTY WCID 114 TX1010317 that the drinking water being supplied to customers had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has established the MCL for arsenic to be 0.010 milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on running annual average (RAA), and has determined that it is a health concern at levels above the MCL. Analysis of drinking water in your community for arsenic indicates a compliance value in quarter two 2023 of 0.013 mg/L for EP003 (Water Plant No.3).
This is not an emergency. However, some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of the MCL over many years could experience skin damage or problems with their circulatory system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
You do not need to use an alternative water supply. However, if you have health concerns, you may want to talk to your doctor to get more information about how this may affect you.
We are taking the following actions to address this issue:
- The District’s water well from which the elevated levels of arsenic has been detected has not been used as part of the District’s water supply prior to or since the exceedance has occurred.
Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (i.e., people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions regarding this matter, you may contact Eagle Water Management at 281-374-8989.