San Patricio County, Texas — public water systems

How does San Patricio County compare with other Texas counties?

San Patricio County has the 84th-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 69,407 people served in total, the 55th-largest county figure in the state and 0.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,470 people, about 28% below 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 San Patricio County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, San Patricio County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (11, 55%), groundwater (7, 35%) and surface water (2, 10%). Overall, 35% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 65% 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, City of Portland, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in San Patricio County?

San Patricio County's active systems break down as 14 community systems (70%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (5%) and 5 transient non-community systems (25%). 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 state government (5%).