Gross alpha in Texas well water
In Texas, 12% of 2,417 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for gross alpha (15 pCi/L).
Gross alpha is a screening test for radioactive elements in water, mainly radium and uranium from granite bedrock. A high result means one of those is present and the specific test should follow. Alpha emitters raise cancer risk when swallowed over years.
Check your gross alpha number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Getting it fixed
Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company, or see the treatment guide for what removes gross alpha.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (15 pCi/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Samples | Detected | Above EPA limit | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duval | 46 | 78% | 35% | 9 | 39 pCi/L |
| Live Oak | 37 | 70% | 30% | 4.4 | 33 pCi/L |
| Dawson | 30 | 77% | 27% | 8.2 | 95 pCi/L |
| Matagorda | 34 | 68% | 15% | 5.05 | 28 pCi/L |
| Lavaca | 37 | 57% | 11% | 2.8 | 40.1 pCi/L |
| Gillespie | 31 | 61% | 6% | 4.27 | 18 pCi/L |
| Colorado | 37 | 51% | 5% | 2.7 | 16 pCi/L |
| San Saba | 38 | 53% | 5% | 2.1 | 16.5 pCi/L |
| Erath | 47 | 66% | 4% | 3.4 | 24 pCi/L |
| Wharton | 33 | 64% | 3% | 2.7 | 30 pCi/L |
| Lipscomb | 34 | 74% | 0% | 2.74 | 8.1 pCi/L |
- San Saba CCD, San Saba County6% of 34
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. gross alpha counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.