Public water system record
City of Big Spring
Serves Big Spring, Howard County, TX · 27,282 people served
Federal records show 23 health-based violations and 9 monitoring/reporting issues for City of Big Spring in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) violation that EPA lists as archived, not resolved.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 23
- Resolved
- 18
- Unresolved
- 0
- Archived by EPA
- 5
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 9
Key facts
- City of Big Spring draws water from 3 surface water intakes.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), 0.111 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.4 times the limit), 2025.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order with a penalty by Texas, July 2022.
- Record on file since 1984, with 25 health-based violations before October 20, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 2 lead and 462 unknown out of 9,970 service lines.
Check whether City of Big Spring 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.111 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.4 times the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.107 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.096 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.09 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.102 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.3 times the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2024 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.109 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.4 times the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.099 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Jan 1, 2024 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.088 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.084 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2023 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.09 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2023 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.087 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2022 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.081 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Oct 1, 2021 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.081 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.097 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
220 | Apr 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Feb 1, 2021 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.095 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
220 | Jan 1, 2021 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.082 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2020 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.085 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
220 | Jul 1, 2020 | Resolved | No |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Jan 1, 2019 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Jan 1, 2017 | Resolved | Yes |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
120 | Dec 1, 2016 | Resolved | Yes |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
May 7, 2025 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 30, 2024 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jan 30, 2022 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Jul 29, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Mar 31, 2021 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Oct 1, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Sep 12, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Chlorine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Apr 1, 2020 | Resolved |
|
Chlorine
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jan 1, 2020 | Resolved |
Full record since 1984
EPA's records for City of Big Spring go back to 1984. Before October 20, 2016 they list 25 health-based violations (22 resolved, 3 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 11 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 | 0 |
| 1990s | 2 | 0 |
| 2000s | 4 | 2 |
| 2010 to October 19, 2016 | 18 | 9 |
| October 20, 2016 to 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020s | 20 | 9 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 20, 2016: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute), began May 2016, Resolved.
Show all 25 health-based violations before October 20, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
May 1, 2016 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Mar 1, 2015 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 2015 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Jun 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Feb 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Feb 1, 2014 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jun 1, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
May 1, 2012 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
May 1, 2011 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Apr 1, 2011 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.087 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.088 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Apr 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.083 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
Apr 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Mar 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Feb 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Jan 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.089 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
|
Jan 1, 2010 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Dec 1, 2009 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Sep 1, 2009 | Resolved |
|
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (acute)
Treatment technique failure
|
Sep 1, 2009 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Nov 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Dec 1, 1993 | Archived |
|
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
Nov 1, 1993 | Archived |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Oct 8, 1984 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
Texas regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against City of Big Spring between 2013 and 2022. The most recent was a compliance order with a penalty in July 2022.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2022 | Texas | Compliance order with a penalty | 7 violations (6 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Lead and Copper Rule |
| Apr 7, 2013 | Texas | Compliance order with a penalty | 9 violations (9 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Total Coliform |
What the violations mean
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
17 incidentsDisinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit
Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
6 incidentsThe system did not meet a filtration or treatment requirement for surface water
Inadequate treatment of surface water can let pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia through
Where the water comes from
City of Big Spring draws water from 3 surface water intakes. It also buys water from System TX1140038 and Colorado River Municipal Water District. 1 other community water system and 1 smaller public system such as schools, businesses or campgrounds buy water from City of Big Spring.
Buys water from
- System TX1140038
- Colorado River Municipal Water District Big Spring, TX
Community systems that buy water from it
- City of Coahoma Coahoma, TX
Annual water quality report
City of Big Spring 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.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
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