Parasites in Friendswood Water? Here’s What the City’s Latest Water Report Actually Says

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — A reference to a potentially dangerous parasite in Friendswood’s newly released water-quality report may sound alarming at first glance. But a review of the actual testing data does not show that Friendswood has reported parasites in its drinking water.

The City of Friendswood recently published its 2026 Consumer Confidence Report, which summarizes water-quality monitoring conducted during the 2025 reporting year.

Inside that report is a “Special Notice” telling residents that some people may be particularly vulnerable to microbial contaminants such as Cryptosporidium.

That language deserves attention — but it also needs context.

What is Cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite capable of causing a gastrointestinal illness known as cryptosporidiosis.

The organism can occur in surface water and can be particularly concerning for people with weakened immune systems, including some cancer patients, transplant recipients, infants and elderly residents.

That is why drinking-water reports often contain special health guidance advising those populations to discuss drinking water with their health-care providers.

Why is it mentioned in Friendswood’s report?

The Friendswood report states that vulnerable people may face increased risk from certain microbial contaminants, giving Cryptosporidium as an example.

It also directs residents to Environmental Protection Agency guidance for reducing their risk of infection.

But nowhere in that warning does the City state that Cryptosporidium was detected in Friendswood’s finished drinking water.

What does the actual testing table show?

Talk of Friendswood reviewed the contaminant tables included in the City’s six-page water-quality report.

Those tables report testing for numerous inorganic, organic, radioactive and microbiological contaminants, along with disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, turbidity, lead and copper.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia do not appear in those tables as detected contaminants in Friendswood’s drinking water.

The report’s microbiological testing also shows zero positive E. coli or fecal-coliform samples and no violation associated with those organisms.

Friendswood reported an average chlorine residual of 2.88 milligrams per liter for 2025, with the report listing no violation of the disinfectant standard.

Where does Friendswood’s water come from?

The source of Friendswood’s drinking water helps explain why microbial contaminants are discussed in the annual report.

Friendswood receives both groundwater and treated surface water.

According to the City’s report, Friendswood purchases treated water from the City of Houston, which supplies water originating from Lake Livingston and the Trinity River. Friendswood can also produce groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer through six wells approximately 600 feet deep or deeper.

Surface-water systems are monitored closely for microbial contamination because organisms can occur naturally in rivers, lakes and watersheds.

What about the strange-looking water reported this month?

The parasite question comes at a time when water quality has already been getting attention in Friendswood.

Earlier in September, residents in Friendswood and several other southeast Houston communities reported water that appeared yellow or green following heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Edouard.

Friendswood said at the time that the City of Houston had advised it of elevated levels of naturally occurring minerals in the water.

The City said the discoloration did not make the water unsafe to drink and that samples from Friendswood’s system continued to meet or exceed regulatory standards.

Nothing in the City’s statement connected the discoloration to parasites or microbial contamination.

Friendswood reported no drinking-water violation in the annual testing tables

The City’s current Consumer Confidence Report lists the results of required testing for dozens of regulated contaminants.

The report does not identify a violation associated with the contaminants presented in its testing tables.

Friendswood’s Public Works Department is responsible for operation of the city’s water-production, treatment and distribution system.

That doesn’t mean residents shouldn’t ask questions

Annual drinking-water reports are dense documents, and health warnings can understandably cause concern when they mention organisms capable of causing serious illness.

Residents should be able to distinguish between a required precautionary health statement and an actual laboratory detection.

In this case, the evidence available in Friendswood’s current report supports the latter distinction: the report warns residents about the potential health effects of Cryptosporidium, but it does not report finding Cryptosporidium in Friendswood’s drinking water.

Residents with concerns about their water can contact Friendswood Water Operations at 281-996-3380.