Well water in Bell County, Texas
In Bell County, 28% of 64 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.
74 individual samples from 47 wells, 1941 to 2022. 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 Bell 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride 1961 to 2020 | 64 | 100% | 28% | 1.68 | 6.1 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1999 to 2020 | 12 | 58% | 8% | 0.22 | 21.8 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2007 to 2022 | 22 | 55% | 0% | 0.252 | 1.13 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1999 to 2020 | 11 | 55% | 0% | 0.001 | 0.006 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1999 to 2020 | 10 | 10% | 0% | 0 | 1.27 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1999 to 2020 | 10 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1941 to 2020 | 74 | 99% | no limit | 86.3 | 1,177 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1941 to 2020 | 70 | 100% | no limit | 179 | 1,600 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1965 to 2020 | 14 | 50% | no limit | 1.57 | 360 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1999 to 2020 | 11 | 36% | no limit | 0 | 1.37 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Gross alpha (4), Radium (226 + 228) (6), E. coli (1), PFOA (1), PFOS (1), Radon (1).
Get the free Bell County well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Bell County, exactly which tests to order, and what treatment fits the local profile. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (28% of 64 samples) and nitrate (8% of 12 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 Bell County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)272 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Fluoride28% of 64 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate8% of 12 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 45 pCi/L.
- Gross alphaAbove the limit in 1 of 4 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 99% of local samples.
- CopperDetected in 55% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Bell County
TCEQ records 272 leaking underground storage tank sites and 2 hazardous waste sites in Bell County, among 291 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.
- 272
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 17
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Bell 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 Bell County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Bell County?
Arsenic was detected in 10% of 10 public well samples in Bell County, and 0% 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 high is radon in well water in Bell County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Bell County was 45 pCi/L, with a high of 45 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Bell 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: 288 samples in Bell 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: 24 samples in Bell 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: 291 regulated sites located in Bell 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.