Well Water Nerd

Well water in Archer County, Texas

In Archer County, 6% of 194 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.

196 individual samples from 147 wells, 1954 to 1991. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.

TWDB samples an ambient monitoring network of wells on a rotation, so these describe aquifers, not a survey of homeowners' tests.

What individual samples found

Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Archer County. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.

ContaminantSamplesDetectedAbove limitMedianHighestLimit
Fluoride
1963 to 1991
194100%6%0.95.84 mg/L
EPA limit
Chloride
1954 to 1991
196100%no limit2632,588250 mg/L
nuisance level
Sodium
1954 to 1991
196100%no limit3172,18520 mg/L
health guideline

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Nitrate (6), Gross alpha (6), Iron (6).

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (6% of 194 samples). A well next door can differ sharply from yours because bedrock fractures, well depth and plumbing all matter, so these rates describe the area, not your tap.

Chloride and Iron are widespread in local groundwater. They are mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.

What to test for in Archer County

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)16 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
  • Fluoride6% of 194 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • NitrateAbove the limit in 3 of 6 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
  • Gross alphaAbove the limit in 1 of 6 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
  • ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
  • IronDetected in 67% of local samples.

Contamination sources on record in Archer County

TCEQ records 16 leaking underground storage tank sites in Archer County, among 23 regulated sites in total. Groundwater does not follow property lines, so a well within a few hundred feet of one of these is worth testing for what that site could release.

16
leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
7
lined landfills and transfer facilities

Treatment that fits the local profile

Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Chloride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Iron
Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration

Get your Archer County water tested at home

A licensed local water treatment company tests your tap water in your home, walks you through the numbers, and quotes treatment only if something needs fixing. Free, about 30 minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you need and we match you with a company that serves Archer County.

What are you worried about?

The test is free and there is no obligation. Your details go only to the company named above, and we log the time and address of this request.

Common questions

How often should I test a private well in Archer County?

Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.

Sources

  • Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database: 604 samples in Archer County. Water quality samples from the Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database, collected by TWDB, groundwater conservation districts and cooperators. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  • TCEQ regulated sites: 23 regulated sites located in Archer County. Leaking petroleum storage tank sites, state Superfund sites and municipal solid waste landfills from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Retrieved September 9, 2026.

Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.