PORTER, Texas – The results are in. For years, residents in Porter have complained about brown water flowing from their taps, raising concerns about safety and quality.
To get answers, KPRC 2′s Re’Chelle Turner tagged along with Quality Home Products to have the water tested.
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The sample, collected from an outdoor faucet at a Porter home, was analyzed by National Testing Laboratories. The results? The water meets EPA safety standards, meaning it’s technically safe to drink.
But that doesn’t explain the discoloration that continues to worry homeowners.
What Could Be Causing the Brown Water?
Experts say the issue could be due to: ✔ Sediment buildup in the water system ✔ Aging pipes releasing minerals ✔ Fluctuations in water pressure stirring up naturally occurring elements like iron and manganese
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While the test results confirm the water isn’t violating EPA regulations, some minerals can still affect taste, color, and water hardness.
Breaking Down the Test Results
The water was tested for 24 different factors, including metals, minerals, and physical properties. Here’s what was found:
The Good News
- No detectable lead – The test did not find any lead, which is important because the EPA’s action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb). Even at the lowest detection level of 2 ppb, there was no trace.
- No harmful levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, or uranium were found.
What Might Be Causing the Brown Water?
- Iron (116 ppb) – Well below the EPA’s secondary standard of 300 ppb, but still high enough to cause discoloration.
- Manganese (27 ppb) – Also under the EPA limit of 50 ppb, but even small amounts can turn water brown or black and stain sinks, tubs, and laundry.
- Turbidity (0.8 NTU) – This measures how cloudy the water is. While it’s below the EPA’s action level of 1.0 NTU, residents are still noticing murkiness.
Other Notable Findings
- Sodium (71 mg/L) – No EPA limit, but something to note for those on low-sodium diets.
- Total Dissolved Solids (230 mg/L) – Below the 500 mg/L limit, but these can affect taste and water hardness.
- Chloride (16 mg/L) & Sulfate (9.3 mg/L) – Well below limits.
Experts Weigh In
Debbie Wilkerson and Jared Castro, who work with Quality Home Products, helped collect the sample and reviewed the findings. They say while the water is safe, the discoloration is understandably concerning for residents.
“It’s safe… it’s not going to harm you, but it can change the odor, the taste, and the color. And that freaks people out—because no one wants to see their drinking water turn brown,” said Wilkerson.
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Experts suggest that homeowners consider filtration systems to help with taste, odor, and water clarity, especially if they have sensitive skin or other concerns.
What’s Next? Residents Want Answers
Re’Chelle Turner reached out to Inframark, the company that manages Porter’s water system, and the Porter Special Utility District to get answers. We asked:
- Why is the water still brown despite passing test results?
- Is there an issue with the pipes or water treatment process?
- What is being done to fix this issue for residents?
As of now, we are still waiting for a response.
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We will continue to follow this story and provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.