City of Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) Water Quality Report

DID YOU KNOW water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs),” are annual documents that all public water systems are required to provide to you via mail and online. These reports are supposed to provide important information about the quality of the drinking water delivered over the previous year.

They can be difficult to read or understand. They are often many pages long and contain complex tables and charts. Culligan Water wants to change this and help you MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER.

This easy-to-read report will provide you with the following:

1) Infrastructure & Water System Overview

Dallas Water Utilities operates one of the largest and most closely monitored systems in the country, maintaining more than 5,000 miles of water mains and serving over 2.6 million residents across the metro area. The utility holds a “Superior” rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) — the agency’s highest designation — for meeting or exceeding all federal and state standards.

Recent infrastructure improvements include main replacements, leak detection programs, and watershed protection efforts designed to safeguard local reservoirs from contamination and reduce overall system water loss. According to the American Water Works Association’s leak index, Dallas’s water supply ranks within the “superior reliability” range.

2) Water Sources and Usage

Dallas’s drinking water comes exclusively from surface water — a blend of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and six regional reservoirs: Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Grapevine, Ray Hubbard, Tawakoni, and Fork.

These lakes are treated at Dallas’s three surface water treatment plants before distribution. DWU continuously monitors for potential microbial, organic, and inorganic contaminants that may enter the water as it travels across land or from runoff. The city’s system is also designed to remove cryptosporidium and other microbial risks; none were detected in treated water during 2024 testing.

3) Disinfection and Water Treatment

The DWU’s treatment process follows a multi-stage system that includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, ensuring water safety before storage and delivery.

These levels indicate that Dallas’s disinfection process remains effective while minimizing byproduct formation.

4) Minerals and Water Quality Highlights

Dallas tap water naturally contains dissolved minerals from its surface water sources.

Hard water can lead to mineral buildup on fixtures and glassware and may reduce the efficiency of water-using appliances — a common concern in North Texas households.

The Dallas–Fort Worth region’s water supply is safe to drink but can still contain trace levels of certain substances that impact taste, odor, or home fixtures. Here are a few common water quality concerns found across the area.

Unregulated contaminants are substances that the EPA monitors but has not yet assigned enforceable limits for. Dallas Water Utilities tests for these compounds to track potential risks and ensure long-term water safety. While levels remain below federal thresholds, these byproducts can still affect water taste, overall health, and household performance over time.

Dallas water is considered moderately hard, averaging around 140–160 mg/L (about 8–9 grains per gallon). Hard water isn’t a health concern, but it can leave mineral buildup on faucets, dishes, and appliances — and may make soaps and detergents less effective. A water softener helps prevent scaling and keeps fixtures and plumbing running efficiently.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” have been detected in water supplies across Texas, including the Dallas region. These man-made compounds are valued for their resistance to heat and oil but are slow to break down in the environment. Recent state and federal testing has identified measurable PFAS levels in some North Texas water sources, prompting utilities and regulators to increase monitoring and mitigation efforts. The following PFAS contaminants were detected in the Dallas Water Utilities service area: