Public water system · TX2210002
ActiveCity of Merkel
At a glance
City of Merkel (PWSID TX2210002) is an active community water system in Taylor County, Texas. It reports serving 3,573 people through 1,379 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,573
Service connections
1,379
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Merkel compare with other water systems in Taylor County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Merkel is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Taylor County has 19 active public water systems, and City of Merkel is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 61% below the county average of 9,124 people per system, and accounts for 2.1% of the 173,358 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Texas, the 7,078 active systems average 4,789 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Merkel is about half of that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Texas has 4,594 active community water systems, 65% of the state's 7,078 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 1,192 Texas systems (17%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Merkel?
EPA lists City of Merkel as owned by a local government. The TX state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 13 of the 19 active systems in Taylor County (68%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Merkel have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between December 2008 and July 2025. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting, 1 reporting, 1 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (7 of them). EPA lists 11 as resolved and 1 as unaddressed. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2018-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-12-11 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) · code 25 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Merkel: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Merkel?
City of Merkel (PWSID TX2210002) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the TX state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Merkel serve?
City of Merkel reports serving 3,573 people through 1,379 service connections in Taylor County, Texas.
Where does City of Merkel get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does City of Merkel have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Merkel's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, one is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the TX state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Merkel's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Merkel must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Taylor County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Abilene | Taylor | 130,501 | Community | Surface water |
| Steamboat Mountain WSC | Taylor | 8,178 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Potosi WSC | Taylor | 7,413 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Dyess Air Force Base | Taylor | 7,183 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Sun WSC | Taylor | 3,420 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| View Caps WSC | Taylor | 2,928 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “City of Merkel, PWSID TX2210002, Texas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/texas/city-of-merkel-tx2210002 (data as of October 1, 2026).