City of Harker Heights

Special Notice for Vulnerable Populations: Elderly individuals, infants, cancer patients, people with HIV/AIDS and others with compromised immune systems may be more susceptible to contaminants in municipal water than the general population. These individuals should consult with healthcare providers about their water consumption. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing infection risks from Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Lead Advisory: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health concerns, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters drinking water through service line materials and household plumbing components. While we provide quality water, we cannot control plumbing materials used in homes. After water sits for several hours, reduce potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For lead testing information, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Regulatory Oversight: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulates our water quality and has identified certain issues that currently prevent full compliance with Federal Water Standards. Each issue is documented in this report as a violation, and we're working diligently with TCEQ to implement solutions.

Water Source Information: All water sources, including bottled water, may reasonably contain at least small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Potential Contaminant Sources:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment, septic systems, agricultural operations, wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil/gas production
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants from natural sources or oil/gas production and mining

Secondary Constituents: Many components in water (like calcium, sodium, iron) can affect taste, color and odor. These secondary constituents are regulated by Texas, not the EPA, and don't pose health concerns. While not required to be reported here, they can significantly impact water appearance and taste.

Water Source Details: Our municipal water comes from SURFACE water sources including: Cedar Creek Reservoir, Richland-Chambers Reservoir, Lake Worth, Skull Mountain Lake, and Benbrook Lake. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality assessed Fort Worth's source waters and classified the risk as high for several contaminants. This classification indicates activities near water sources make contamination more likely, not that health risks exist. For information on source water testing and protection, contact Stacy Walters at 817-392-8203.

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