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Harris County MUD 361

The Woodlands, TX · serves 3,705 · Purchased groundwaterTX1013123
Worth watching
Naturally occurring lithium detected. No federal limit. Research is preliminary; see the lithium learn page for context.
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Measured in your 2025 water report
From your utility's Consumer Confidence Report · 7 contaminants tested
Above limit
Approaching limit
Within limits
Regulated contaminants — legally enforceable limits
Nitrate (as N)▸
0.16 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.
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N)▸
0.56 mg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
No additional information available for this contaminant.
Nitrite (as N)▸
0.25 mg/L
Reference: MCL
Federal Maximum Contaminant Level. The legally enforceable EPA drinking-water standard.
What is it?
Related to nitrate — comes from the same sources but acts on infant hemoglobin at roughly 10× lower concentrations. Rarely found in treated drinking water because it converts to nitrate quickly.
Why it matters
Nitrite above 1 mg/L causes the same "blue baby" effect (methemoglobinemia) as nitrate above 10 mg/L. The federal MCL is set at 1 mg/L for that reason.
What to do
Same as nitrate — if you have an infant and nitrite is detected, use bottled water for formula. Contact your utility if levels approach the MCL.
Lead & copper — tested at your tap
Copper▸
0.407 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.
Lead▸
0.0014 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?
Lead in drinking water almost always comes from your home's plumbing — not from the water source or treatment plant. Lead pipes, solder, and brass fixtures can leach lead, especially if water sits in pipes for hours.
Why it matters
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Even low levels can harm children's brain development, and cause kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. The action level of 15 µg/L is a regulatory trigger, not a safety threshold.
What to do
Run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in the morning. Use cold water for cooking and formula — hot water leaches more lead. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead removal is the most reliable protection.
What the research says
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead crosses the placenta and causes preterm birth and cognitive impairment in children at blood lead levels below 10 µg/dL.
% 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: HARRIS COUNTY MUD 361 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.

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3 sites within 10 mi
Nearby Superfund Sites

3 EPA Superfund sites within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily mean your water is affected.

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Groundwater
Water Sources

The Woodlands pumps water from zero groundwater wells drawing from local groundwater.

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