What you need to know
The most recent water quality report from New Braunfels Utilities demonstrates the utility has maintained its superior public water system rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Utilities are regulated through the TCEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The 2023 report shows that of the 15 main contaminants tested for—including the residual levels of the additives chloramine and fluoride—none of the contaminants posed a health risk and clocked in below maximum contaminant levels.
NBU uses chloramines—commonly formed when combining ammonia with chlorine according to the EPA—which have a longer lifespan than free chlorine, said Reagan Peña, director of enterprise communications for the utility.
Fluoride is added and dosed to optimal levels as prescribed by regulatory agencies, which is well below the regulatory maximums, Peña said.
"At New Braunfels Utilities, we take our role seriously and prioritize delivering safe, high-quality water to our customers. Our water comes from multiple public sources, all subject to stringent regulations set by the EPA and the TCEQ,” said Brent Lundmark, NBU water treatment and compliance manager. “NBU’s treatment processes and systems meet or exceed these regulatory standards, ensuring our water remains safe and reliable."
What are the options?
Some residents might still want to further filter the water they consume, including the removal of additives, despite their safety but due to other concerns, including taste, odor and sensitivity.
Eric Yeggy, director of technical affairs for the Water Quality Association, a trade group that certifies home and commercial water filtration systems, said the main reason a homeowner would install a personal filter or any form of water alteration is due to the physical qualities of the water.
Another reason homeowners may purchase water softeners is to reduce the risk of hard water—which is predominant in Central and South Texas—clogging pipes or causing complications with household equipment, such as water heaters and dishwashers. Yeggy said that hard water usually does not come with any health concerns when consuming it.
For people looking to remove any water additives, filtration options are available, but Yeggy said it is important to ensure that the product actually filters the specific contaminants a homeowner is trying to get rid of.
“Even if you know you have chloramine or fluoride in it, I would still say go ahead and test your water,” he said. “Any treatment device that you select is going to be designed to remove multiple contaminants.”
One more thing
There is a growing concern about a class of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. According to WQA documents, these are not regulated federally and are not part of the current required testing regimen for utilities, but are being studied, and some options to reduce them through filtration are certified and available.
As for alternative forms of drinking water, such as alkaline water or hydrogen water, Yeggy mentioned that the EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and other organizations have not yet determined whether alkaline water has any health benefits or not, and the WQA finds the scientific data inconclusive.
According to information from TCEQ, the three primary sources for bottled water are regulated municipal water suppliers, standalone wells/springs or from an approved rainwater collection system.
Overall, water quality requirements from state and federal organizations ensure that municipal utility water is safe to consume, with the primary reasons for a homeowner needing to alter the water being a desired change in the physical properties.
