Lubbock
Lubbock, TX water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
lubbock public water system
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID TX1520002
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 249,042 residents, Lubbock ranks as the 11th-largest city in Texas and a mid-sized city. Water in Lubbock is sourced chiefly from reservoirs, Ogallala aquifer, Edwards aquifer, and Rio Grande, the backbone of Texas's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: drought. 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.
Statewide, Texas recycles about 16% of its wastewater with established reuse programs. Locally, Lubbock faces moderate to severe drought conditions.
The Texas state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Lubbock's water future.
Lubbock County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~249,042 (11th-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 Lubbock?
Lubbock's largest water system, LUBBOCK PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM, serves about 275,041 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.4 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Lubbock get its water?
LUBBOCK PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM 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