Selected Trace Metals in Four Major Surface-Water Reservoirs of the Houston Metropolitan Area

This technical note reports selected trace metals in four major surface-water reservoirs associated with the Houston metropolitan region. Shoreline surface-water samples from Lake Houston, Lake Livingston, Lake Conroe, and Clear Lake were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following U.S. EPA Method 200.8 quality-control procedures. Copper was the dominant analyte in all reservoirs, with mean concentrations of 9.82-15.5 µg L⁻¹. Measured concentrations were low, and arsenic and lead were below relevant federal drinking-water benchmarks. These results provide a concise descriptive baseline for future reservoir monitoring.