Waco sits where the Brazos River cuts through central Texas — a growing city of about 140,000 people with a water story shaped by military operations, agriculture, and the realities of managing water infrastructure in a state where drought is always one season away.
Fort Cavazos and PFAS Contamination
Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) is one of the largest military installations in the world, covering over 200,000 acres just west of Killeen and roughly 50 miles from Waco. The base’s decades of operations have created contamination concerns that extend well beyond its fenceline.
Like virtually every major military installation in the United States, Fort Cavazos used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for firefighting training exercises. AFFF contains PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — that are extraordinarily persistent in the environment and have been linked to cancer, immune system effects, and other health problems.
The Department of Defense has identified PFAS contamination at Fort Cavazos, including:
- Contamination near fire training areas where AFFF was repeatedly applied
- Groundwater migration of PFAS from training sites into surrounding aquifer systems
- Drinking water testing at on-base water systems showing PFAS detections
For Waco residents, the concern isn’t that Fort Cavazos contamination directly reaches Waco’s water supply — the distance provides a buffer. But the contamination highlights the broader pattern of PFAS in central Texas groundwater, and communities between the base and Waco, particularly Killeen and Temple, face more direct exposure risks.
The Brazos River: Waco’s Water Source
Waco draws its municipal water supply primarily from Lake Waco, a reservoir on the Bosque River (a tributary of the Brazos), and supplements with Brazos River water. Both sources face contamination pressures:
Dairy and livestock operations in the upper Bosque River watershed have been a documented source of nutrient pollution for decades. The Bosque River watershed contains one of the highest concentrations of dairy operations in Texas, and the runoff carrying nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria has been a persistent challenge.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has classified segments of the Bosque River as impaired for:
- Bacteria (E. coli) — exceeding contact recreation standards
- Nutrient enrichment — contributing to algal growth in Lake Waco
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was established for the Bosque River watershed to address nutrient loading, requiring reductions in phosphorus from dairy operations and other sources. Progress has been made, but the watershed’s agricultural intensity means this remains an ongoing management challenge.
Agricultural Runoff and Nitrates
Central Texas agriculture — cotton, grain sorghum, cattle, and dairy — generates runoff that affects both surface water and groundwater quality throughout the region.
For private well owners in McLennan County and surrounding areas, nitrate contamination is a primary concern:
- Fertilizer application on cropland contributes nitrates to groundwater through infiltration
- Animal waste from livestock operations, particularly concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), adds nitrate loading
- Naturally occurring nitrate in some Texas aquifer systems compounds the agricultural contribution
The EPA’s maximum contaminant level for nitrate is 10 mg/L. In agricultural areas of central Texas, private wells occasionally exceed this threshold, particularly in shallow aquifer systems with limited natural filtration.
Disinfection Byproducts
Lake Waco and Brazos River water contain natural organic matter — decaying vegetation, algae, and other biological material — that reacts with chlorine during the disinfection process to form disinfection byproducts (DBPs).
Two categories of DBPs are regulated:
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) — the EPA MCL is 80 parts per billion
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) — the EPA MCL is 60 parts per billion
Waco’s water utility has invested in treatment upgrades to manage DBP formation, but warm temperatures and high organic matter in source water make this a persistent challenge in central Texas. The city’s annual water quality reports show DBP levels that meet federal standards but can approach regulatory limits during summer months when organic matter and temperatures peak.
Infrastructure Challenges
Waco’s water infrastructure faces the same challenges as many mid-size Texas cities: aging pipes, growing demand, and the financial pressure of maintaining and upgrading systems built decades ago.
Key issues include:
- Lead service lines — older sections of Waco may still have lead service connections or lead solder in household plumbing. Texas does not maintain a complete inventory of lead service lines.
- Distribution system maintenance — main breaks and pressure fluctuations can introduce sediment and bacteria into the water supply
- Treatment plant capacity — population growth in the Waco metro area puts increasing demands on treatment infrastructure
The City of Waco has been investing in infrastructure improvements, but the scale of deferred maintenance across Texas water systems — estimated in the billions of dollars statewide — means progress is incremental.
Drought and Water Supply
Central Texas lives under the shadow of drought. The 2011 drought was particularly severe — Lake Waco dropped to critically low levels, and water restrictions were imposed across the region.
Drought affects water quality in several ways:
- Concentrated contaminants — lower water levels mean higher concentrations of dissolved substances
- Increased treatment difficulty — algal blooms thrive in warm, low-flow conditions
- Groundwater stress — heavy pumping during drought can draw deeper, potentially more mineralized water into wells
The Brazos River Authority manages water rights and reservoir operations throughout the basin, balancing municipal, agricultural, and industrial demands. Climate projections suggest central Texas will face more frequent and intense droughts, putting additional pressure on water quality and supply.
What Residents Can Do
- Read your annual CCR — the City of Waco publishes water quality results every year
- Test your well if you’re not on city water — McLennan County private wells should be tested for bacteria, nitrates, and consider PFAS
- Check for lead — if your home was built before 1986, consider testing for lead at your tap
- Use a filter — NSF-certified filters can address most common contaminants found in central Texas water
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on solutions appropriate for the specific challenges in the Waco area.