Public water system record
Rice University
Serves Houston, Harris County, TX · 8,415 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 9 monitoring/reporting issues for Rice University in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Revised Total Coliform Rule violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 0
- Archived by EPA
- 1
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 9
Key facts
- Rice University draws water from 1 well.
- Most recent enforcement action: boil water order by Texas, December 2025.
- Record on file since 1992, with 0 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 0 unknown out of 78 service lines.
Check whether Rice University serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
110 | Nov 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
Yes |
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment technique failure
|
350 | Oct 17, 2024 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
|
Dec 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
RPT
|
Oct 17, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
|
Jul 1, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jun 1, 2021 | Resolved |
|
E. coli
Monitoring and reporting
|
Sep 15, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Monitoring violation
|
May 1, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jan 4, 2019 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Dec 30, 2017 | Resolved |
|
Chlorine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jul 1, 2017 | Resolved |
Full record since 1992
EPA's records for Rice University go back to 1992. Before October 19, 2016 they list no health-based violations and 3 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 0 | 3 |
| 2020s | 2 | 6 |
Enforcement actions
Texas regulators issued 1 boil water order to Rice University in 2025. The most recent was a boil water order in December 2025.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2025 | Texas | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Revised Total Coliform Rule |
What the violations mean
Revised Total Coliform Rule
1 incidentThe system did not meet a requirement of the Revised Total Coliform Rule
Coliform and E. coli rules protect against bacteria in the distribution system
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Where the water comes from
Rice University draws water from 1 well. It also buys water from City of Houston.
Buys water from
- City of Houston Houston, TX
Annual water quality report
Rice University must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Texas.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells