Public water system record
City of Merkel
Serves Merkel, Taylor County, TX · 3,573 people served
Federal records show 1 health-based violation and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for City of Merkel in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Revised Total Coliform Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 1
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- Yes
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 1
Key facts
- City of Merkel buys its water from City of Abilene.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by EPA, April 1993.
- Record on file since 1991, with 6 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 1,111 unknown out of 1,257 service lines.
Check whether City of Merkel 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 | Jul 1, 2018 | Resolved | Yes |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Dec 30, 2016 | Resolved |
Full record since 1991
EPA's records for City of Merkel go back to 1991. Before October 19, 2016 they list 6 health-based violations (3 resolved, 3 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 16 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3 | 3 |
| 2000s | 3 | 5 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 8 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 1 | 1 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began August 2007, Resolved.
Show all 6 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 2007 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.083 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
Oct 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.095 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
|
Jul 1, 2005 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jul 1, 1992 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Jun 1, 1992 | Archived |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Feb 1, 1992 | Archived |
Enforcement actions
EPA took 1 formal enforcement action against City of Merkel in 1993. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in April 1993.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1993 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 6 violations (3 health-based): Total Coliform |
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
Where the water comes from
City of Merkel buys its water from City of Abilene. It lists no wells or intakes of its own. 1 other community water system buys water from City of Merkel.
Buys water from
- City of Abilene Abilene, TX
Community systems that buy water from it
- Blair WSC Merkel, TX
Annual water quality report
City of Merkel 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