Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Living in Karnes City, TX: what to set up and who to call
The City of Karnes City water system reported 2 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), disinfection byproducts (TTHM). 80% of systems its size reported none. Power in Karnes City comes from Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop, a cooperative utility rather than a private company.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Karnes City, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Karnes City.
Power comes from Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop
Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop (Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop Inc), a cooperative utility, serves all of Karnes City. Its homes paid an average of 11.8¢ per kWh in 2025, about $145 a month (its average across Texas).
Start or move service: gvec.org · (830) 857-1200
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from City of Karnes City water system
The City of Karnes City water system supplies Karnes City: about 66% of residents live in its service area. El Oso WSC serves another 34%. It draws ground water and serves 4,269 people in all.
2 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), disinfection byproducts (TTHM), the latest beginning Apr 2025. 80% of the 5,012 systems serving 3,301–10,000 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2024–Dec 2026, was 1.2 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. The highest in five years was 2.2 ppb. That’s higher than 54% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. TX1280001.
5 home internet providers serve Karnes City
100% of 1,381 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 96% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Fiber | 94% | 1,000/1,000 |
| AT&T | DSL, Fixed wireless | 29% | 10/1 |
| Guadalupe Valley Electric Coop | Fixed wireless | 100% | 100/20 |
| Gtek Communications | Fixed wireless | 98% | 200/20 |
| VTX1 | Fixed wireless | 86% | 400/50 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
Trash and recycling in Karnes City
Pickup days, the drop-off and recycling in Karnes City, from the town’s own site.
We couldn’t find pickup days or drop-off hours. Check cityofkctx.com →
From cityofkctx.com, the town’s official site, checked Oct 21, 2026; pages dated Copyright © 2024. Rules change: the town’s page is the last word. .
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Karnes City is in Karnes City Independent School District.
D−School gradeSee Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jun 2025; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Karnes City is in ZIP code 78118
ZIP codes where Karnes City residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Karnes City | ZIP’s residents in Karnes City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78118 | Karnes City, TX | 100% | 64% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Karnes City
Who supplies Karnes City’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The City of Karnes City water system (EPA ID TX1280001). It reported 2 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), disinfection byproducts (TTHM). 80% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 1.2 ppb (Jan 2024–Dec 2026), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Karnes City?
Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop (Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop Inc), a cooperative utility. Its homes paid about 11.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Karnes City?
Spectrum, AT&T, Guadalupe Valley Electric Coop, Gtek Communications, VTX1 (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Karnes City?
78118. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Karnes City in?
Karnes City Independent School District.
How do I register to vote in Karnes City?
Texas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before). Elections here are run by the Karnes County Early Voting Clerk. Check your registration at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: Karnes City’s own website (cityofkctx.com), read Oct 21, 2026, pickup and drop-off facts extracted and checked against the page they came from.
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.