Public water system · TX1280007
ActiveEl Oso WSC
At a glance
El Oso WSC (PWSID TX1280007) is an active community water system in Karnes County, Texas. It reports serving 6,288 people through 2,096 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
6,288
Service connections
2,096
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does El Oso WSC compare with other water systems in Karnes County?
By EPA's size categories, El Oso WSC is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Karnes County has 9 active public water systems, and El Oso WSC is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 190% above the county average of 2,165 people per system, and accounts for 32% of the 19,487 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 El Oso WSC is roughly in line with 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 5,215 Texas systems (74%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates El Oso WSC?
EPA lists El Oso WSC 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. 5 of the 9 active systems in Karnes County (56%) are also owned by a local government.
Does El Oso WSC have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between July 2015 and July 2025. By type: 10 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (10 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. 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.
| 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 | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2023-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2020-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | 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.
El Oso WSC: frequently asked questions
Who runs El Oso WSC?
El Oso WSC (PWSID TX1280007) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the TX state drinking water program.
How many people does El Oso WSC serve?
El Oso WSC reports serving 6,288 people through 2,096 service connections in Karnes County, Texas.
Where does El Oso WSC get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does El Oso WSC have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 10 are 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 El Oso WSC'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, 10 are 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 El Oso WSC's water quality report?
As a community water system, El Oso WSC 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 Karnes County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Kenedy | Karnes | 6,454 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of Karnes City | Karnes | 4,269 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of Runge | Karnes | 1,482 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of Falls City | Karnes | 514 | Community | Groundwater |
| Conocophillips Kenedy Office | Karnes | 175 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Jericho Ranch Rv Park | Karnes | 156 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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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, “El Oso WSC, PWSID TX1280007, Texas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/texas/el-oso-wsc-tx1280007 (data as of October 1, 2026).