What the Big Spring records show
- Water quality and PFAS
- 1 candidate water system shown.Source date: Violations as of Q1 2026
- Air quality and emissions
- 1 monitoring record shown. Observation year: 2025.Source date: AQS data as of 2026
- Land and cleanup records
- No Superfund records returned in this report; No brownfield records returned in this report.
- Infrastructure and incidents
- 3 pipeline incident records shown; 2 RMP facility records shown (earlier stored inventory, current location coverage unverified).Source date: PHMSA data as of Q1 2026
Water quality in Big Spring
Check your water bill for your utility name and confirm the reporting year. See EPA’s guide to finding your annual water quality report.
Drinking Water Compliance
Drinking Water Compliance
Public water-system records for Big Spring, TX from EPA SDWIS.
City of Big Spring
Active monitoring or reporting issue detected in EPA SDWIS.
Reviewed: active/open records as of Q1 2026
City listed in EPA records · Serves 27,282 people
Data from EPA SDWIS
PFAS Screening
2
PFAS Screening
PFAS screening separates EPA UCMR5 drinking-water monitoring from nearby DoD PFAS investigation-site records; EPA samples shown are from Jun 2023 to Mar 2024.
Drinking Water PFAS Monitoring
EPA UCMR5 samples public water systems. These results are separate from nearby PFAS cleanup or investigation-site records.
2 PFAS sample results above EPA limits
Sample period: Jun 2023
UCMR5 results are sampled by public water system, not every household. Confirm your water provider before treating these as tap-water results for a specific address.
| Chemical | Concentration (µg/L) | EPA Limit (µg/L) | Sample date | Over Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxS | 0.0111 | 0.0100 | 2023-06-14 | Yes |
| PFOS | 0.0044 | 0.0040 | 2023-06-14 | Yes |
PFAS detections below EPA limits.
Nearby PFAS Investigation Sites
DoD records are nearby site investigations, not Big Spring drinking-water detections. Record names come from the source database and can be broad.
No DoD PFAS investigation records shown for this report.
Impaired Water Bodies
1
Impaired Water Bodies
EPA ATTAINS records identify assessed water bodies that do not meet water-quality standards for designated uses.
Big Sandy Draw-Beals Creek
Reported: Nov 2026
Health-relevant causes: Pathogens
Affected uses: Recreation
Data from EPA ATTAINS
Discharge Permits (NPDES)
3
Discharge Permits (NPDES)
NPDES permits regulate pollutant discharges into U.S. waterways. Facilities must report compliance quarterly.
Violation records
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Data from EPA ECHO
To investigate water contamination, check the sampling locations, dates and results below. For tap water records, see Drinking water quality above.
Reviewed: source records as of 2026
Air quality and emissions in Big Spring
Review historical EPA air pollution records, including monitoring and facility emissions where available. For current conditions, check local air quality on AirNow.
EPA AirToxScreen — Estimated Cancer Risk
EPA AirToxScreen — Estimated Cancer Risk
Howard County
Assessment year: 2020
According to EPA, a cancer risk of 20-in-1-million means that for every 1 million people continuously exposed to these air toxics over a 70-year lifetime, an estimated 20 may develop cancer from that exposure. This is in addition to cancer risk from all other causes.
Top modeled source groups
Data from EPA AirToxScreen
Nonattainment Status
Nonattainment Status
No EPA nonattainment designation records shown for this report.
Air Quality Monitoring (AQS)
Air Quality Monitoring (AQS)
EPA annual monitor summaries describe past measurements. For current air quality, see AirNow.
Big Spring Midway
Annual mean: 29.1 Parts per billion
EPA primary exceedance count: 52 (SO2 1-hour 2010)
Observation year: 2025
Data from EPA AQS
Air Quality Violations or Noncompliance
1
Air Quality Violations or Noncompliance
Facilities regulated under the Clean Air Act. CAA HPV flags indicate serious noncompliance such as exceeding emission limits.
Air Violations
Last inspected: Dec 2025
Data from EPA ECHO
Reported Air Emissions (TRI)
24
Reported Air Emissions (TRI)
TRI releases are self-reported annual totals (calendar year 2024). Hover fugitive or stack for definitions.
Alon Usa-Big Spring Refinery
Reported: 2024
Big Spring Asphalt Plant
Reported: 2024
Endurance Lift Solutions LLC
Reported: 2024
Land cleanup and hazardous waste records in Big Spring
Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026
Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026
Underground Storage Tanks
Underground Storage Tanks
No release reports shown in this group.
Reviewed: active/open records as of 2018
Data from EPA UST Finder
Onsite Waste Disposal (TRI Land Releases)
1
Onsite Waste Disposal (TRI Land Releases)
Toxics Release Inventory data — chemicals disposed on-site at reporting facilities.
Alon Usa-Big Spring Refinery
Open data source: View EPA TRI facility recordFormerly Used Defense Sites
2
Formerly Used Defense Sites
Formerly Used Defense Sites are properties previously owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense. The FUDS program addresses environmental restoration at these properties.
Open data source: USACE FUDSMSHA Mine and Extraction Sites
3
MSHA Mine and Extraction Sites
Sites regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, including mines, sand and gravel operations, and portable crushers. Status and type are from the MSHA Mine Data Retrieval System. Records with active/intermittent status dates older than 5 years are shown as older records rather than current active sites.
More MSHA records matched the search than this preview shows.
No records shown in this group.
Reviewed: status dates within last 5 years
Data from MSHA
Hydraulic Fracturing Wells
3
Hydraulic Fracturing Wells
FracFocus Chemical Disclosure Registry — national registry of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations, as reported by operators to the Ground Water Protection Council and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
FracFocus well disclosures (3)
Data from FracFocus
County radon potential
County radon potential
Howard County, TX
EPA Radon Zone Map (June 2024 release)
Howard County is EPA Radon Zone 3 (low potential). EPA defines Zone 3 counties as having predicted average indoor screening levels below 2 pCi/L.
Radon levels can vary from home to home, so EPA recommends testing the property to know its indoor level.
Infrastructure, incidents, and community health in Big Spring
FEMA Flood Zones
FEMA Flood Zones
FEMA flood zones describe mapped flood hazards. Look up a specific address with FEMA.
No FEMA flood-zone records shown for this report.
EPA Risk Management Program Records
EPA Risk Management Program Records
Results use an earlier stored RMP inventory. Current EPA ECHO location coverage is unverified.
EPA ECHO lists facilities linked to the Risk Management Program. Results include facilities with locations that can be matched. Records may be historical. Current operations, chemical inventories, and recent accident history are unverified.
Pipeline Incidents
1
Pipeline Incidents
PHMSA tracks incidents involving natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Incidents include leaks, ruptures, and explosions.
Recent Incidents (last 5 years)
CENTURION PIPELINE L.P.
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
- Type
- Hazardous Liquid
- Cause
- CORROSION FAILURE
- Released
- CRUDE OIL
Property damage: $23,100
Data from PHMSA
Community Health Indicators
Community Health Indicators
Health outcomes from County Health Rankings. Values shown alongside state and national averages.
Howard County, TexasPop. 33,672
County Health Rankings edition: 2024
Premature Death
- County
- 11,055
- State
- 7,875
- National
- 7,972
Poor or Fair Health
- County
- 22.3%
- State
- 17.9%
- National
- 14.2%
Poor Physical Health Days
- County
- 4.1
- State
- 3.3
- National
- 3.3
Poor Mental Health Days
- County
- 5.2
- State
- 4.6
- National
- 4.8
Adult Smoking
- County
- 18.4%
- State
- 13.3%
- National
- 15.0%
Adult Obesity
- County
- 39.6%
- State
- 36.2%
- National
- 34.0%
Air Pollution - Particulate Matter
- County
- 7.5
- State
- 8.6
- National
- 7.3
Drinking water violation indicator
- County
- Yes
- State
- N/A
- National
- N/A
Diabetes Prevalence
- County
- 13.0%
- State
- 11.0%
- National
- 9.6%
Life Expectancy
- County
- 72.8
- State
- 77.2
- National
- 77.6
| Indicator | County | State | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premature Death | 11,055 | 7,875 | 7,972 |
| Poor or Fair Health | 22.3% | 17.9% | 14.2% |
| Poor Physical Health Days | 4.1 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Poor Mental Health Days | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Adult Smoking | 18.4% | 13.3% | 15.0% |
| Adult Obesity | 39.6% | 36.2% | 34.0% |
| Air Pollution - Particulate Matter | 7.5 | 8.6 | 7.3 |
| Drinking water violation indicator | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Diabetes Prevalence | 13.0% | 11.0% | 9.6% |
| Life Expectancy | 72.8 | 77.2 | 77.6 |
Environmental questions about Big Spring, Texas
Has PFAS been found in the water in Big Spring, Texas?
EPA testing found PFAS in water samples from the City of Big Spring. Results dated Jun 14, 2023 to Mar 20, 2024 include PFBA at 0.0084 to 0.0125 micrograms per liter and PFHxS at 0.0054 to 0.0111 micrograms per liter.
Check with the utility that serves your address for its testing results.
What do EPA records say about tap water in Big Spring, Texas?
EPA drinking water records on this page list 42 violations for the City of Big Spring.
Check your water bill to identify the utility serving your address. Ask that utility about current drinking water advisories.
What do annual air monitors show near Big Spring, Texas?
Nearby EPA monitoring stations provide annual air quality measurements for Big Spring.
The monitoring station at Big Spring Midway recorded an annual average of 29.1 Parts per billion for sulfur dioxide in 2025.
Download 2025 EPA annual monitor dataCurrent air quality on AirNow
Is there radon in Big Spring, Texas?
The radon data for Big Spring covers Howard County. EPA places this area in Zone 3, with a predicted average indoor radon screening level below 2 picocuries per liter.
Are there Superfund or brownfield sites near Big Spring, Texas?
No Superfund or brownfield sites were returned for this city report.
What is the life expectancy in Big Spring, Texas?
The county data for Big Spring reports a life expectancy of 72.8 years in Howard County, Texas.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
What does the data say about premature deaths in Big Spring, Texas?
The county data for Big Spring reports 11,055 years of life lost to deaths before age 75 per 100,000 residents in Howard County, Texas. This measure adds up the years lost to early deaths and adjusts for differences in population age.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
Is there air pollution in Big Spring, Texas?
The county data for Big Spring lists fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) at 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter in Howard County, Texas.
The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.
What environmental incidents are recorded near Big Spring, Texas?
Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Centurion Pipeline L.P. near Big Spring on Jul 31, 2023. The reported release was crude oil.
Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Delek Marketing and Supply, LP near Big Spring on Sep 28, 2020. The reported release was crude oil.
Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Medallion Operating Company, LLC near Big Spring on Apr 21, 2016. The reported release was crude oil.