Public water system · TX1010908
ActiveRice University
At a glance
Rice University (PWSID TX1010908) is an active community water system in Harris County, Texas. It reports serving 8,415 people through 75 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as privately owned. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
8,415
Service connections
75
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Rice University compare with other water systems in Harris County?
By EPA's size categories, Rice University is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Harris County has 1,246 active public water systems. Its population served is about 74% above the county average of 4,849 people per system, and accounts for 0.1% of the 6,041,784 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 Rice University is about 26% above 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 Rice University?
EPA lists Rice University as privately owned. 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. 732 of the 1,246 active systems in Harris County (59%) are also privately owned.
Does Rice University have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2026. The violations listed here began between January 2019 and April 2026. By type: 3 required treatment not met, 3 monitoring, 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 1 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Revised Total Coliform Rule (4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation · code 57 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2026-04-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2026-03-31 | Required treatment not metOCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation · code 57 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2025-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2025-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2021-06-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-09-15 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Source Water (GWR) · code 34 | E. colicode 3014 | No | Resolved |
| 2020-05-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-04 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | 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.
Rice University: frequently asked questions
Who runs Rice University?
Rice University (PWSID TX1010908) is a community water system privately owned. It is regulated by the TX state drinking water program.
How many people does Rice University serve?
Rice University reports serving 8,415 people through 75 service connections in Harris County, Texas.
Where does Rice University 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 Rice University have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2026. 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 Rice University'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, 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the TX state drinking water program.
Where can I find Rice University's water quality report?
As a community water system, Rice University 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 Harris County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Houston | Harris | 2,970,543 | Community | Surface water |
| City of Pasadena | Harris | 152,000 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Clear Lake City Water Authority | Harris | 89,702 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Baytown | Harris | 86,004 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| City of Houston Ud 5 - Kingwood | Harris | 80,073 | Community | Groundwater |
| Harris County MUD 165 | Harris | 40,503 | 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, “Rice University, PWSID TX1010908, Texas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/texas/rice-university-tx1010908 (data as of October 1, 2026).