Azle Water Quality & Filtration Guide

Introduction To Water Quality in Azle

The city of Azle, Texas provides water service to approximately 11,800-15,096 residents through a municipal system sourced primarily from Eagle Mountain Lake, with a capacity of 6 million gallons per day. The treatment process employed by Azle includes coagulation, sedimentation, anthracite/sand filtration, pH adjustment, and chlorination to meet safety standards. The city maintains a total storage capacity of 4 million gallons, with 2.5 million gallons stored on-site and an additional 1.5 million gallons in elevated storage.

While the Azle water system maintains compliance with regulatory standards, our analysis has identified several areas of concern that merit attention from residents. Most notably, the water in Azle is characterized by:

• High hardness levels that can affect appliance longevity and efficiency
• pH levels that require adjustment to between 7.2-7.8 to control corrosion
• Elevated disinfection byproducts that exceed health guidelines
• Taste and odor compounds (such as Geosmin) that affect water palatability

For residents utilizing private wells instead of municipal water, additional concerns arise from the Trinity Aquifer (Antlers Formation), which presents its own unique set of contaminants and characteristics that differ significantly from the surface water supply.

Contaminants and Pollutants in your Local Water

Our analysis of Azle's municipal water supply has identified several contaminants that, while meeting regulatory requirements, exceed health guidelines established by environmental health organizations. The most significant contaminants include:

Municipal Water Contaminants:

• Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 57.2 ppb (570 times health guideline)
• Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): 23 ppb (230 times health guideline)
• 1,2,3-Trichloropropane: 4.8 ppb (4.8 times health guideline)
• Chloroform: 18.6 ppb (46.5 times health guideline)
• Barium: 170 ppb (below health guideline)
• Atrazine: 0.12 ppb (agricultural runoff presence)

Private Well (Trinity Aquifer) Contaminants:

The Trinity Aquifer, which supplies private wells in the Azle area, presents different water quality challenges:

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 1,000-5,000 mg/L (increasing with depth)
• Radon-222: Elevated levels above 300 pCi/L in approximately 19% of samples
• Sulfate: Ranging from 50-400 mg/L (with regional variability)
• Uranium: Present at levels of 3.1-6.8 pCi/L in some samples
• Saltwater intrusion indicators: Chloride exceeding 250 mg/L in 23% of wells
• Agricultural chemical residues: Including Atrazine metabolites

This data reveals what we call the "Water Quality Paradox" - Azle's water is 100% compliant with regulatory standards while simultaneously containing contaminants that exceed health guidelines, in some cases significantly.

Explanation of Contaminants and their Problems

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

TTHMs are disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine used to treat drinking water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. In Azle's water, TTHMs have been detected at an average level of 57.2 ppb, which is below the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 80 ppb but 570 times higher than established health guidelines.

Health impacts from TTHMs include:

• Short-term exposure: Can cause liver and kidney irritation, especially at higher concentrations
• Long-term exposure: Associated with increased bladder cancer risk
• Vulnerable populations: Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to negative effects

TTHMs represent a critical concern in Azle's water, with cancer risk estimated at 12 times the EPA threshold based on current levels.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

Similar to TTHMs, Haloacetic Acids form as byproducts of the chlorination process. Azle's water contains HAA5 at levels of 23 ppb, which complies with the regulatory MCL of 60 ppb but exceeds health guidelines by 230 times.

HAA5 exposure is associated with:

• Acute effects: Damage to mucosal tissues
• Chronic effects: Neurotoxic effects with long-term exposure
• Highest risk groups: Children show increased sensitivity to these compounds

The presence of both TTHMs and HAA5 indicates a significant challenge with disinfection byproducts in the Azle water system, likely resulting from the interaction between chlorine disinfection and organic matter in the Eagle Mountain Lake source water.

Chloroform

As a specific component of TTHMs, chloroform deserves particular attention given its level of 18.6 ppb in Azle water, which exceeds health guidelines by 46.5 times. Chloroform is formed during the water chlorination process and contributes significantly to the overall TTHM levels.

Chloroform exposure can lead to:

• Liver function impacts when ingested regularly
• Central nervous system effects at higher concentrations
• Potential reproductive health concerns

Addressing chloroform requires targeting the precursor organic materials before they react with chlorine during treatment.

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

This synthetic chemical has been detected in Azle water at 4.8 ppb, which is 4.8 times higher than health guidelines. 1,2,3-Trichloropropane is particularly concerning as it has no established MCL but has been identified as a probable human carcinogen.

Health concerns include:

• Acute effects: Nausea and vomiting with high exposure
• Chronic effects: Associated with stomach tumors in animal studies
• Most vulnerable: Immunocompromised individuals should be particularly cautious

The presence of this compound, even at low levels, represents a significant concern for long-term water quality.

Radon (Private Wells)

Radon-222 has been detected in approximately 19% of Trinity Aquifer samples at levels exceeding 300 pCi/L. This naturally occurring radioactive gas dissolves in groundwater and can be released into household air during water use.

Radon exposure via water is associated with:

• No immediate symptoms upon exposure
• Increased lung cancer risk with long-term exposure, particularly for smokers
• Inhalation risk when released from water during showering and other household uses

The fractured nature of the Trinity Aquifer appears to facilitate radon migration into well water in the Azle area.

Deep Dive on Well Water Quality in the Area

Trinity Aquifer Water Quality

The Trinity Aquifer (Antlers Formation) serves as the primary water source for private wells in the Azle region. Our research indicates several concerning characteristics specific to this aquifer:

Mineral and Dissolved Solid Content:The Trinity Aquifer exhibits high mineralization, with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 mg/L, with concentrations typically increasing with depth. This high TDS level affects:

• Water taste and palatability
• Scaling and deposits in plumbing and appliances
• Effectiveness of soaps and detergents
• Overall water hardness

Radionuclide Concerns:The geological composition of the Trinity Aquifer contributes to the presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials:

• Uranium detected at levels between 3.1-6.8 pCi/L in some samples
• Radon-222 exceeding 300 pCi/L in 19% of sampled wells
• Potential for other radium isotopes given the geological formation

Aquifer Vulnerability:The Trinity Aquifer shows concerning vulnerability patterns, particularly in:

• Eastern and southern sub-basins demonstrating 38% higher sediment loading
• 22% greater nitrogen flux in certain areas
• Recharge zones showing 15% evapotranspiration loss in unconfined sections
• Fracture-dominated flow in 67% of samples, increasing contaminant transport risk

Water Age and Contamination:Tritium detections indicate that approximately 50% of water samples are less than 50 years old, suggesting relatively rapid recharge and increased vulnerability to surface contamination sources. This is particularly concerning given the detection of agricultural chemicals and their metabolites in aquifer samples.

The saltwater intrusion indicated by elevated chloride levels (>250 mg/L in 23% of wells) represents a growing concern that may worsen over time, particularly in deeper wells or those near the boundaries of the aquifer's freshwater zone.

Filtration Recommendations for Azle

Based on our comprehensive analysis of Azle's water quality challenges, we recommend tailored filtration solutions for both municipal water users and private well owners. These recommendations address the specific contaminant profiles identified in each water source.

Municipal Water Filtration Solution

For residents using Azle's municipal water supply, the priority contaminants requiring treatment include:

• Trihalomethanes and other disinfection byproducts
• Haloacetic acids
• Chloroform
• Geosmin (taste and odor compound)

Recommended Filtration Stack:

1. Primary Activated Carbon Filtration
   • Targets: Chlorine, TTHMs, HAA5, chloroform, and organic compounds
   • Benefits: Improves taste, odor, and color while removing dangerous disinfection byproducts
   • Effectiveness: Removes approximately 95% of chlorine and 85-90% of TTHMs
2. Catalytic Carbon Enhancement
   • Targets: Enhanced removal of chloramines and disinfection byproduct precursors
   • Benefits: Superior performance compared to standard carbon for HAA5 reduction
   • Mechanism: Catalytic surface facilitates more complete adsorption of challenging compounds
3. Submicron Post-Filtration
   • Targets: Cryptosporidium, particulates, and remaining turbidity
   • Benefits: Creates additional barrier against microbial contaminants
   • Filtration level: 0.5-micron or smaller to ensure comprehensive protection
4. pH Balancing System
   • Targets: Optimal water pH between 7.2-7.8
   • Benefits: Reduces corrosion potential, optimizes mineral balance
   • Technology: Calcite or similar pH correction media

Private Well Water Filtration Solution

For Azle residents relying on private wells drawing from the Trinity Aquifer, a more comprehensive approach is required to address the unique contaminant profile:

Recommended Filtration Stack:

1. Aeration Tower/System
   • Targets: Radon gas removal
   • Benefits: Reduces cancer risk associated with waterborne radon
   • Efficiency: Can remove 95-99% of dissolved radon when properly designed
2. Anion Exchange Resin Treatment
   • Targets: Uranium, sulfate, and other negatively charged contaminants
   • Benefits: Reduces radioactive contaminant exposure and improves taste
   • Maintenance: Requires periodic resin regeneration or replacement
3. Reverse Osmosis Membrane System
   • Targets: TDS reduction, saltwater intrusion contaminants, remaining minerals
   • Benefits: Comprehensive removal of dissolved contaminants
   • Performance: Typically removes 95-99% of total dissolved solids
4. UV Disinfection
   • Targets: Biological contaminants, including bacteria and viruses
   • Benefits: Chemical-free disinfection that doesn't create byproducts
   • Application: Final treatment step before consumption

In both municipal and well water applications, proper system sizing, regular maintenance, and periodic water testing are essential to ensure continued performance and protection. Our team provides complete installation, maintenance services, and follow-up testing to verify that your water meets not just regulatory standards but the more stringent health guidelines that truly protect your family's health.

This comprehensive approach addresses both the compliance-level contaminants and those that exceed health guidelines, delivering water that is not only safe by regulatory standards but optimized for long-term health and appliance protection.