Bowie County, Texas — public water systems

How does Bowie County compare with other Texas counties?

Bowie County has the 82nd-most active public water systems among the 309 counties listed for active Texas systems in EPA records; among the 234 with 3 or more systems, the median has 12. Its systems report 94,176 people served in total, the 45th-largest county figure in the state and 0.3% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,709 people, roughly in line with the Texas average of 4,789. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Bowie County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Bowie County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (15, 75%), groundwater (4, 20%) and surface water (1, 5%). Overall, 20% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 80% on surface water, compared with 78% and 21% across Texas. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Texarkana Water Utilities, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Bowie County?

Bowie County's active systems break down as 17 community systems (85%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (5%) and 2 transient non-community systems (10%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (70%), private (25%) and federal government (5%).