Well water in Bowie County, Texas
In Bowie County, 4% of 116 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
119 individual samples from 49 wells, 1954 to 2026. 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 Bowie 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 1960 to 2026 | 116 | 89% | 4% | 0.54 | 5.5 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1993 to 2026 | 30 | 37% | 0% | 0 | 7.21 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1993 to 2026 | 29 | 21% | 0% | 0 | 7 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1993 to 2026 | 29 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1993 to 2026 | 29 | 48% | 0% | 0 | 0.047 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1954 to 2026 | 119 | 100% | no limit | 128 | 1,710 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1954 to 2026 | 118 | 100% | no limit | 205 | 1,200 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1954 to 2026 | 35 | 54% | no limit | 3.8 | 7,490 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1993 to 2026 | 29 | 72% | no limit | 4.6 | 127 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (8), Gross alpha (7), Radium (226 + 228) (2).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (4% of 116 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, Iron, and Manganese 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 Bowie County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)199 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel3 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Fluoride4% of 116 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.
- ManganeseDetected in 72% of local samples.
- IronDetected in 54% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Bowie County
TCEQ records 199 leaking underground storage tank sites and 3 hazardous waste sites in Bowie County, among 217 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.
- 199
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 3
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 15
- 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
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Bowie 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 Bowie County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Bowie County?
Arsenic was detected in 21% of 29 public well samples in Bowie 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 often should I test a private well in Bowie 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: 551 samples in Bowie 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: 217 regulated sites located in Bowie 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.