City of La Marque

The Municipal Water Meets or Exceeds Nearly All Federal and State Requirements

This report provides an overview of the quality of water we supply to our customers. The analysis was conducted using the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required testing data. We hope this information helps you understand what's in your water.

About Your Water Supply
Water sources (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

All water, including bottled varieties, typically contains at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Potential Contaminants in Source Water:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants (synthetic and volatile organics) from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants from natural sources or oil/gas production activities

Water Safety Standards
The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems. Similarly, FDA regulations set limits for contaminants in bottled water to provide the same public health protection.

Special Notice for Vulnerable Populations
Some individuals may be more vulnerable than the general population to certain contaminants like Cryptosporidium. Infants, elderly persons, those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people on steroid treatments, and those with HIV/AIDS or other immune disorders should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium infection risk are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Lead Information
Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control plumbing material varieties. When water has been sitting for several hours, minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. Information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Our Water Sources
The City of La Marque provides groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer System and purchases water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA). The GCWA supplies surface water from the Trinity River (treated by the City of Houston) and groundwater from wells leased by the City of Galveston. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) completed an assessment indicating some sources may be susceptible to certain contaminants. Our sampling requirements reflect this susceptibility. For information on source water testing and protection efforts, please contact John Montgomery in our Regulatory Compliance Division at (281) 367-5511.

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