City of Port Lavaca

The USEPA establishes regulations limiting certain impurities in public water supplies to ensure tap water safety. Similarly, FDA regulations set impurity limits for bottled water to provide equivalent public health protection. All water sources, including tap and bottled water, naturally contain some level of impurities. The presence of these substances doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the USEPA's Safe Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). Water sources including rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells can collect various substances as water moves across land or through ground layers. These include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment facilities, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, industrial discharges, oil and gas production, farming, or mining
• Agricultural chemicals including pesticides and herbicides from various sources
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from oil/gas production and mining

Port Lavaca receives its water from surface water diverted from the Guadalupe River and treated at the GBRA Port Lavaca Water Treatment Plant, operated by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. TCEQ is currently updating a Source Water Assessment for our water source, which identifies potential contaminants based on human activities and natural conditions.

Certified operators continuously monitor and test the water, adding fluoride and chloramine as needed, ensuring compliance with state and federal standards. The treated water travels to city water towers and through the distribution system to residents. For information on water treatment and quality initiatives, contact the GBRA Port Lavaca Water Treatment Plant at 361-552-9751.

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