Is It Safe To Drink The Water In Fort Worth, Texas?

Many people are wondering if the water in Fort Worth, Texas is safe to drink. The answer is not as simple as a yes or no. There are many factors that come into play when determining the safety of drinking water. Here is a brief overview of the situation.
Fort Worth Water
The water in Fort Worth, Texas has been under scrutiny for years. As a result, many people were left without access to safe drinking water. The city has since taken steps to improve the quality of the water, but there are still some concerns.
One of the main concerns is that the levels of chlorine in the water are still too high. Chlorine is added to water to kill bacteria and other harmful contaminants. However, too much chlorine can also be harmful to human health. Studies have shown that long-term exposure to high levels of chlorine can increase the risk of cancer and other serious health problems.
Another concern is that the levels of fluoride in the water are also too high. Fluoride is added to water to help prevent tooth decay. However, some people don’t want to see fluoride in their water, thinking it can be harmful to human health. Studies have shown that long-term exposure to normal levels of fluoride isn’t a problem.
The city of Fort Worth has had some water quality violations due to lead and coliform in the past[1]MyTapWater.org: https://mytapwater.org/pws/tx2200012/city-of-fort-worth/tarrant-tx/, but the water quality reports a generally good.
So you can safely drink the tap water in Fort Worth, Texas.
Does Fort Worth Water Have Lead?
Based on recent testing and historical analysis, Fort Worth water doesn’t have problems with lead[2]Fort Worth Water: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/lead. This testing is done at the water supply (the treatment plant) so it doesn’t take into account homes that might have lead pipes or use leaded solder.
Fort Worth is not free of lead piping, but the city is actively trying to remove it’s lead delivery pipes. The project is over 75% complete as of the last reporting and was projecting to be finished by the end of 2021[3]Fort Worth Water: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/lead/protection.
Does Fort Worth Water Have Arsenic?
Fort Worth’s water is low in arsenic. Recent water quality reports[4]Fort Water CCR: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/files/assets/public/water/documents/water-quality-reports/water-quality-report-2016.pdf have the arsenic levels list at 1.4 parts per billion, which is about 1/10th the amount that is listed as mandated limit (10 ppb).
Arsenic in Texas comes from natural deposits in the area, from runoffs from farming, and then from runoff from glass and electronics factories.
Closing Thoughts On Fort Worth Water
As you can see, there are minimal concerns about the safety of drinking the water in Fort Worth, Texas. Even so, as with most major municipalities in the US, there are steps being taken to improve the quality of the water. If you are concerned about your safety, you should talk to a local plumber or water treatment specialist. You local Culligan representative is often quite helpful as well (though they will usually try to sell you something).
References
↑1 | MyTapWater.org: https://mytapwater.org/pws/tx2200012/city-of-fort-worth/tarrant-tx/ |
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↑2 | Fort Worth Water: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/lead |
↑3 | Fort Worth Water: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/water/lead/protection |
↑4 | Fort Water CCR: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/files/assets/public/water/documents/water-quality-reports/water-quality-report-2016.pdf |