What happened: The City of Midland’s 2024 Consumer Confidence Report confirms that throughout 2024, Midland’s water quality remained compliant with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, with no violations reported. However, in early 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) informed the city that arsenic levels in the drinking water had exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb) during the fourth quarter of 2023, reaching 11 ppb.

Why it matters: Arsenic is a naturally occurring contaminant that, in high concentrations, can pose health risks over time. The increase in arsenic levels was due to elevated arsenic concentrations in the T-Bar Ranch water source, which supplies approximately 30% of Midland’s water. The city’s water supply is sourced from the Colorado River Municipal Water District and the Pecos Valley Aquifer.

The bottom line: The city implemented a new water treatment method that successfully removed up to 57% of arsenic from the groundwater. By February 2024, arsenic levels had decreased to 9 ppb, below the TCEQ’s MCL.

Midland’s water currently meets EPA and TCEQ standards, but arsenic levels, while now compliant, remain higher than the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) more stringent health guidelines. The EWG recommends a health guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic in drinking water, significantly lower than the TCEQ’s MCL. In 2024, Midland’s arsenic levels ranged from 2.1 ppb to 9 ppb, which is below the TCEQ’s MCL but exceeds the EWG’s health guideline.

While Midland’s water quality meets federal and state standards, residents concerned about arsenic exposure may consider using point-of-use filtration systems, such as reverse osmosis units, which can effectively reduce arsenic levels in their water.

For more detailed information, residents can access the full 2024 Consumer Confidence Report on the City of Midland’s official website.