Houston
Houston, TX water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
city of houston
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID TX1010013
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Houston, TX is one of the largest cities in the United States, with a population near 2,296,224 and the largest community in Texas. Like much of Texas, Houston draws its water primarily from reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, Edwards aquifer, and Rio Grande.
Houston's water outlook is shaped most by drought — the issue that dominates planning across Texas. Big Spring and Wichita Falls pioneered direct potable reuse in the U.S., and explosive growth plus recurring drought keep Texas at the center of reuse innovation.
Houston sits in a state that reuses roughly 16% of treated wastewater (established programs) and currently experiences moderate to severe drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Texas state water profile and the related issues below.
Harris County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~2,296,224 (largest in Texas)
- Primary sources: reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, Edwards aquifer, and Rio Grande
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~16% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Texas in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Houston?
Houston's largest water system, CITY OF HOUSTON, serves about 2,970,543 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 5 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Houston get its water?
CITY OF HOUSTON draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Texas's supply from reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, Edwards aquifer.
Related water issues
Drought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
Explore