Well water in Burnet County, Texas
In Burnet County, 2% of 59 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
123 individual samples from 75 wells, 1938 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 Burnet 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 2008 to 2016 | 14 | 79% | 7% | 0.873 | 23.0 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1988 to 2026 | 20 | 45% | 5% | 0 | 27 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1988 to 2026 | 59 | 78% | 2% | 0.6 | 15.1 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1961 to 2026 | 122 | 95% | 2% | 0.3 | 6.43 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1988 to 2026 | 56 | 5% | 0% | 0 | 4.47 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1988 to 2026 | 56 | 73% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.134 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1994 to 2026 | 54 | 9% | 0% | 0 | 2.69 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2008 to 2026 | 49 | 55% | 0% | 0.458 | 2.83 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1938 to 2026 | 123 | 100% | no limit | 24 | 472 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1938 to 2026 | 122 | 100% | no limit | 16.7 | 352 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1961 to 2026 | 70 | 39% | no limit | 0 | 720 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1961 to 2026 | 64 | 36% | no limit | 0 | 100 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: E. coli (1), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (7% of 14 samples), gross alpha (5% of 20 samples), and nitrate (2% of 59 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 Burnet County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)42 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Radium (226 + 228)7% of 14 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha5% of 20 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate2% of 59 local samples were above the limit.
- Fluoride2% of 122 local samples were above the limit.
- RadonMedian local reading is 181 pCi/L.
- E. coliAbove the limit in 1 of 1 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Burnet County
TCEQ records 42 leaking underground storage tank sites and 1 hazardous waste site in Burnet County, among 50 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.
- 42
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 1
- hazardous waste siteSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 7
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Burnet 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 Burnet County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Burnet County?
Arsenic was detected in 5% of 56 public well samples in Burnet 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 Burnet County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Burnet County was 181 pCi/L, with a high of 181 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Burnet 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: 794 samples in Burnet 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: 17 samples in Burnet 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: 50 regulated sites located in Burnet 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.