Is there PFAS in Fort Bend County MUD 142 water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
Fort Bend County MUD 142
Serves 11,595 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Feb 2023 to Nov 2023
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
1.1 ppt avg · max 4.2
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
1.8 ppt avg · max 3.8
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.2 avg · max 0.4
Also detected, no federal limit: PFHxA, PFPeA, 6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS.
Fort Bend County MUD 142 is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Houston, Texas, serving about 11,595 people, including Richmond, Fulshear, Katy. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Feb 2023 and Nov 2023.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFUnA, HFPO-DA, ADONA, 4:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFTA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFTrDA, NMeFOSAA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFHpS, NEtFOSAA, 8:2 FTS, PFPeS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFOA, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFMPA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 12.2 ppb, detected in 3 of 4 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Texas
All 1154 tested systems in Texas
ZIP codes served
77406 77407 77441 77450 77469 77494
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Fort Bend County MUD 142 water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID TX0790429. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/texas/fort-bend-county-mud-142/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID TX0790429). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
