Radium (226 + 228) in Texas well water
In Texas, 2% of 3,605 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for radium (226 + 228) (5 pCi/L).
Radium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal in bedrock. It accumulates in bone and raises the risk of bone cancer. It occurs in the same granite areas as uranium and radon.
Check your radium (226 + 228) 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 radium (226 + 228).
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (5 pCi/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Samples | Detected | Above EPA limit | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reagan | 32 | 78% | 13% | 1.15 | 22.4 pCi/L |
| Duval | 72 | 71% | 10% | 0.455 | 10.5 pCi/L |
| Hardin | 34 | 82% | 9% | 0.45 | 12.9 pCi/L |
| Colorado | 37 | 38% | 8% | 0 | 10.1 pCi/L |
| Montgomery | 43 | 91% | 7% | 0.46 | 147 pCi/L |
| Gillespie | 44 | 91% | 5% | 1.56 | 6.8 pCi/L |
| Atascosa | 46 | 78% | 4% | 1.24 | 7 pCi/L |
| Medina | 60 | 82% | 3% | 0.31 | 10.7 pCi/L |
| Mitchell | 30 | 60% | 3% | 0.35 | 8.4 pCi/L |
| Armstrong | 32 | 22% | 3% | 0 | 6 pCi/L |
| Blanco | 36 | 47% | 3% | 0 | 5.21 pCi/L |
| Liberty | 43 | 81% | 2% | 0.47 | 8.45 pCi/L |
| Howard | 45 | 36% | 2% | 0 | 6.5 pCi/L |
| Erath | 58 | 81% | 2% | 1.3 | 6.1 pCi/L |
| Wilson | 34 | 100% | 0% | 0.795 | 2.13 pCi/L |
- Big Lake CCD, Reagan County13% of 32
- Big Spring North CCD, Howard County3% of 34
- Liberty-Dayton CCD, Liberty County3% of 39
- Floresville CCD, Wilson County0% of 32
- Houston CCD, Harris County0% of 229
- Northwest Harris CCD, Harris County0% of 40
- Hondo CCD, Medina County0% of 30
- Uvalde CCD, Uvalde County0% of 38
- San Antonio North CCD, Bexar County0% of 36
- Tarzan-Lenorah CCD, Martin County0% of 34
- Stratford CCD, Sherman County0% of 39
- Dalhart CCD, Dallam County0% of 40
- Hereford West CCD, Deaf Smith County0% of 31
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. radium (226 + 228) counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.