F0/100

Gary Tap Water Quality: Is It Safe to Drink? (2026 Report)

Serving 1,050 residents · Texas

What's In Gary's Tap Water?

Water Utility

Contaminants Tested

Exceed EPA Limits

Above EPA Goals

2 contaminants above EPA health goals

Contaminant	Detected	Limit (MCL)	Goal (MCLG)	Status
Copper (90th percentile)	2.60 mg/L	1.30 mg/L	1.30 mg/L	Over Limit
Lead (90th percentile)	0.003 mg/L	0.015 mg/L	0 mg/L	Above Goal

EPA Violation History

Violations (last 5yr)

Unresolved

Health-Related

TIER 3Unresolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: July 30, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 2Unresolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issuedVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Unresolved

Failed to issue ongoing public notification

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: July 1, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Unresolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: May 15, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 2Unresolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: April 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issuedVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: April 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025Rule: Stage 1 DBPRVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Unresolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: March 8, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 2Unresolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: January 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issuedVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Resolved

Reporting violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: October 17, 2024 – April 22, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Treatment technique violation

When: October 17, 2024 – April 22, 2025Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Unresolved

Failed to issue ongoing public notification

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: October 1, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: July 24, 2024 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Surface water treatment technique failure

When: July 1, 2024 – September 26, 2024Enforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: March 15, 2024 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: November 22, 2023 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: October 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: September 22, 2023 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Failed to conduct Level 2 Assessment

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: September 6, 2023 – March 11, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: July 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: June 22, 2023 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: March 16, 2023 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: March 16, 2023 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Failed to conduct Level 2 Assessment

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: February 15, 2023 – March 11, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: December 22, 2022 – September 26, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: October 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: October 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: April 2, 2022 – June 29, 2022Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: April 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Failed to conduct Level 2 Assessment

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: March 15, 2022 – July 14, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 2Resolved

Exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (running average)

When: January 1, 2022 – March 31, 2022Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Formal — state order issued

TIER 3Resolved

Monitoring / Reporting Violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: December 30, 2021 – July 11, 2022Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Monitoring Violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: July 1, 2021 – July 31, 2021Rule: Total Coliform RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Monitoring Violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: June 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021Rule: Total Coliform RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Monitoring Violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: May 1, 2021 – May 31, 2021Rule: Total Coliform RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

TIER 3Resolved

Disinfection byproduct treatment technique failure

When: April 18, 2021 – August 13, 2021Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway

Understanding violation severity

Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly

Water Utility Details

GARY WSC

Population Served

1,050

Water Source

Groundwater

System ID

TX1830008

Frequently Asked Questions About Gary Water

Is Gary tap water safe to drink?

Gary, Texas tap water receives a grade of F (0/100), which is considered failing. 1 contaminant(s) exceed EPA maximum contaminant levels and 138 violation(s) are on record. Residents should consider using an NSF-certified water filter to reduce contaminant exposure.

What contaminants are in Gary's water?

Of the 2 contaminants tested in Gary's water supply, the most notable include Copper (90th percentile), Lead (90th percentile). 1 contaminant(s) exceed EPA legal limits (MCLs). 2 contaminant(s) exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs), which are non-enforceable targets set at levels with no known health risk.

Does Gary have any water quality violations?

Yes, Gary has 138 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2025. Violation types include Other, MCL, MR. 68 of these are health-based violations, which are the most serious category.

Do I need a water filter in Gary?

Based on EPA data, using a water filter in Gary is recommended. 1 contaminant(s) exceed legal limits. An NSF-certified filter — such as a reverse osmosis or activated carbon system — can effectively reduce many common contaminants. Choose a filter certified to remove the specific contaminants found in your area.

Where does Gary's tap water come from?

Gary's drinking water is sourced from groundwater and supplied by GARY WSC. The system serves approximately 1,050 people. Groundwater is pumped from underground aquifers, which often provides natural filtration.

How often is Gary's water tested?

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), water utilities are required to regularly test for over 90 contaminants. Testing frequency varies by contaminant — some are tested monthly, others quarterly or annually. Gary's water systems must report results to the EPA and publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The data on this page reflects the latest available EPA testing data.

How does Gary's water compare to other cities in Texas?

Gary's water quality score of 0/100 earns a grade of F, which is considered failing. This is a concerning score that suggests significant water quality issues. Visit our Texas state page to see how all cities in the state compare.

What should I do if I'm concerned about Gary's water quality?

If you have concerns about Gary's tap water, consider these steps: (1) Request your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for detailed local data. (2) Get your water independently tested through a state-certified laboratory. (3) Consider an NSF-certified water filter rated for the contaminants found in your area. (4) Contact your water utility (GARY WSC) with specific questions. (5) Report water quality issues to your state drinking water program or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

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