Well water in Bee County, Texas
In Bee County, <1% of 133 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
203 individual samples from 127 wells, 1934 to 2025. 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 Bee 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.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 1992 to 2025 | 27 | 70% | 37% | 4.25 | 33.5 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1934 to 2025 | 133 | 100% | <1% | 0.9 | 13 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1964 to 2025 | 29 | 86% | 0% | 1.98 | 5.46 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1992 to 2025 | 27 | 7% | 0% | 0 | 13 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1992 to 2025 | 27 | 41% | 0% | 0 | 0.038 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1992 to 2025 | 15 | 73% | 0% | 3 | 15 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1934 to 2025 | 203 | 100% | no limit | 248 | 2,120 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1934 to 2025 | 166 | 100% | no limit | 166 | 1,156 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1989 to 2025 | 28 | 36% | no limit | 0 | 4,240 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1989 to 2025 | 28 | 43% | no limit | 0 | 110 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radium (226 + 228) (8), Uranium (8).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are arsenic (37% of 27 samples) and fluoride (<1% of 133 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 is widespread in local groundwater. It is mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.
What to test for in Bee County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)55 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Arsenic37% of 27 local samples were above the limit.
- Fluoride<1% of 133 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Bee County
TCEQ records 55 leaking underground storage tank sites in Bee County, among 61 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.
- 55
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 6
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Bee 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 Bee County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Bee County?
Arsenic was detected in 70% of 27 public well samples in Bee County, and 37% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How often should I test a private well in Bee 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: 689 samples in Bee County. Water quality samples from the Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database, collected by TWDB, groundwater conservation districts and cooperators. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 10 samples in Bee County. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- TCEQ regulated sites: 61 regulated sites located in Bee 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.