Water Quality

Annual Report on Drinking Water Quality

The City of Ingleside is providing this annual Drinking Water Quality Report to tell you about our water and how its quality compares to the guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). All drinking water providers are now required by federal law to issue annual quality reports like this one to their customers.

View the most recent Water Quality Report.

Most importantly, the City of Ingleside wants you to know that when you drink tap water from our system you are drinking clean, high-quality water that meets strict government standards. This report will help you understand the steps taken every day by our experienced staff to deliver the safe drinking water that is essential to human survival.

Many people are surprised to learn that all drinking water, even bottled water, is likely to contain some level of contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily mean that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's toll-free Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Comments & Questions

You can learn more about your water system, offer your comments and present questions and get your answers by calling Donald Paty, Director of Public Works at 361-776-7315.

The City is supplied water by the San Patricio Municipal Water District which was created by the Texas Legislature in 1951 to provide water to San Patricio, Aransas and potentially Refugio county. Prior to that date, residents of the area were forced to depend on limited groundwater supplies.

The Water District is governed by a seven-member board of directors. Six directors are elected from member communities (Odem, Taft, Gregory, Portland, Aransas and Ingleside) and the seventh director is appointed by the other six. The district has taxing authority within the limits of the member cities but has not elected to collect a property tax.

Special Information for People with Weakened Immune Systems

Some people may be more vulnerable to certain contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections.

These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care provider. USEPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Where Our Water Comes From

Source of Water

All of the drinking water supplied by the City of Ingleside is delivered by the San Patricio Municipal Water District. The water comes from a surface water impoundment system consisting of Lake Corpus Christi, Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Texana. Water stored in Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon makes its way down the Nueces River to intake pumps at Calallen.

As water travels over the land's surface and down the river, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and picks up other contaminants. Untreated water may contain bacteria, viruses, salts and various organic chemicals.

The untreated river water is moved by pipeline to the San Patricio Municipal Water District treatment plan near Ingleside. Lake Texana water is pumped through the 101-mile Mary Rhodes Pipeline directly to the O.N. Stevens treatment plant where it is blended with water from the Nueces River.

Water Treatment

Customers served by systems in Odem, Taft, Gregory, Portland, plus Seaboard WSC, Rincon WSC, and Reynolds Metals receive water that has been treated at the O.N. Stevens plant. Customers served by systems in Ingleside, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas, Rockport, and Fulton receive water treatment at the Water District's plant near Ingleside.

Both treatment plants purify water through a process of chemical treatment, settling, filtration and disinfection. Water treatment chemicals are added to remove impurities, kill harmful bacteria, eliminate tastes and odors and help prevent tooth decay. The same quality drinking water is then delivered to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers.