Press Releases

As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and public health, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) reminds all customers that the city’s drinking water consistently meets or exceeds all state and federal safety standards.

Each year, BPUB publishes a comprehensive Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that details the results of water quality testing conducted throughout the previous calendar year. The most recent report, covering results from 2024, confirms no drinking water violations and unequivocally demonstrates that Brownsville’s water is safe to drink.

To ensure the highest level of public health protection, BPUB adheres to strict protocols for microbiological contaminants, including the annual collection of samples and the mandatory reporting of any positive results. In 2024, BPUB collected a total of 1,490 water samples across the distribution system. Out of these, just one initial sample tested positive for fecal coliform bacteria. This isolated result was promptly reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as required. BPUB immediately initiated follow-up retesting, collecting additional samples from the original location, as well as upstream and downstream within the distribution system. All subsequent testing consistently confirmed the absence of microbiological contaminants, indicating that there was no widespread issue.

Although federal and state regulations required BPUB to report this initial result, the follow-up testing determined it to be a “false positive,” meaning a false alarm. The safety and quality of Brownsville’s water were never compromised. We want to reassure our community that our water system undergoes continuous and rigorous monitoring to ensure public safety at all times.

“Water quality is one of our highest priorities,” said Marilyn D. Gilbert, BPUB General Manager & CEO. “We test regularly, maintain strict compliance with regulations, and invest in the infrastructure needed to deliver safe and reliable service to our community.

BPUB also closely monitors disinfectant levels, specifically chloramines, as regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has set a Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) of 4.0 parts per million (ppm) based on the system’s annual average. In 2024, BPUB’s average chloramine level was 3.49 ppm, well within the acceptable limit. While occasional fluctuations in readings can occur, these are normal during routine operations and are not indicators of risk. Our treatment processes are carefully managed to maintain effective disinfection and minimize any potential risks from bacteria and microbes.

In some instances, customers may notice water discoloration, often described as “brown” water. This is typically caused by naturally occurring minerals such as iron or manganese that accumulate in pipes and can become stirred up during maintenance activities or periods of high demand. While this may temporarily affect appearance, it does not pose a health risk and usually resolves after running water for a few minutes. Residents are encouraged to report such issues through the BPUB outage reporting tool.

BPUB encourages all customers and community members to rely on official and reliable sources for water quality information. It’s important to understand that online content, particularly when presented without full context or with exaggeration, can sometimes lead to unnecessary concern. For accurate information, we always recommend seeking clarity directly from trusted official channels.

For comprehensive information about our CCR or testing procedures, we encourage you to contact our Customer Service team at (956) 983-6121 or make an appointment online at https://www.brownsville-pub.com/contact-us/

For media inquiries, please contact Alexa J. Perez, Division Manager of Communications, Public Relations & Digital Platforms, at [email protected] or call (956) 596-3361.