← Back to search

439 Wsc

Belton, TX · serves 7,521 · Purchased surface waterTX0140076
Action recommended
PFAS detected above the federal limit. Utilities have until 2029 to install treatment; until then, a certified filter handles it at the tap.
See filter recommendations →
Not your system? Search your address:
Measured in your 2025 water report
From your utility's Consumer Confidence Report · 6 contaminants tested
Above limit
Approaching limit
Within limits
Regulated contaminants — legally enforceable limits
Nitrate (as N)▸
0.24 mg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Comes from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. One of the most common groundwater contaminants in agricultural areas.
Why it matters
Nitrate above 10 mg/L can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants under 6 months — it interferes with blood's ability to carry oxygen. Adults can tolerate higher levels.
What to do
If you have an infant on formula and your water is above 5 mg/L, consider using bottled water for formula preparation. Boiling water does NOT remove nitrate — it concentrates it.
What the research says
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found neural tube defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight at concentrations as low as 5 mg/L — 2x below the US federal limit.
Lead & copper — tested at your tap
Copper▸
0.109 mg/L
Reference: Action level
Federal Lead and Copper Rule action level. Legally enforceable. Exceeding it triggers required corrective action by the utility.
What is it?
Leaches from copper household plumbing and pipes. Some copper is a normal part of drinking water infrastructure.
Why it matters
Short-term exposure above the action level of 1.3 mg/L can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. At typical detected levels (well below the AL), copper is not a health concern.
What to do
If above the action level, run your tap for 30 seconds before drinking. Copper levels decrease as water flows through the pipes.
Disinfection byproducts
HAA5▸
22 µg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Another group of disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. HAA5 measures the five most common species.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 60 µg/L (0.060 mg/L) is associated with increased cancer risk. Like THMs, the MCL is based on a running annual average.
What to do
Activated carbon filters can reduce HAA5. If your system consistently approaches the limit, a reverse osmosis filter provides more complete removal.
DBCM▸
7.6 µg/L
Reference: MCLG
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. A non-enforceable EPA health goal, set at the concentration where no known or anticipated adverse health effect would occur. The legally enforceable standard for this contaminant lives at the parent-group level (e.g. TTHM, HAA5), not on the individual species.
What is it?
A brominated trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with bromide-containing organic matter. More common in source waters with higher bromide levels — often coastal or groundwater systems.
Why it matters
EPA sets the MCLG at 0.06 mg/L based on liver and kidney effects. Some evidence suggests DBCM may be carcinogenic, though the data is less clear than for BDCM and bromoform. Regulated together with the other three trihalomethanes under TTHM.
What to do
Like other THMs, DBCM forms in the distribution system as chlorine reacts over time. A point-of-use carbon-block filter (NSF/ANSI 53) reduces it along with related compounds.
TTHM▸
38 µg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Formed when chlorine used to disinfect water reacts with natural organic matter. Includes chloroform, bromoform, and related compounds. The trade-off: disinfection prevents waterborne disease, but creates these byproducts.
Why it matters
Long-term exposure above the MCL of 80 µg/L (0.080 mg/L) is associated with increased cancer risk and possible reproductive effects. The MCL is based on a running annual average, not a single sample.
What to do
If your system is near or above the limit, an activated carbon filter (including pitcher filters like Brita) can reduce THMs. Running water for a minute before drinking also helps, as THMs are volatile and dissipate.
% of limit

CCR data in early access — values are extracted from utility PDFs and may contain errors. Verify with your utility's 2025 CCR report.

Source: 439 WSC Consumer Confidence Report 2025 · Extracted by WaterScore
Measured data
Private Well Risk

Do you have or use a private well? Measured concentrations from nearby private wells sampled within 5 miles.

Details ↓
1 site within 10 mi
Nearby Superfund Sites

1 EPA Superfund site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily mean your water is affected.

Details ↓
Surface water
Water Sources

Belton draws from surface water — Sw From Bell County Wcid - Ps 1. Drought directly affects reservoir levels and river flow.

Details ↓
Spatial context
Your area on the map
Open full map →