Well water in Donley County, Texas
In Donley County, 6% of 32 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.
217 individual samples from 50 wells, 1942 to 2016. 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 Donley 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha 1991 to 2016 | 13 | 54% | 15% | 2.07 | 17.2 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 100% | 6% | 4.41 | 18.7 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1942 to 2016 | 213 | 98% | 0% | 0.7 | 1.94 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 66% | 0% | 2.25 | 5.29 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 50% | 0% | 0 | 0.026 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2008 to 2016 | 14 | 14% | 0% | 0 | 1.14 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1942 to 2016 | 217 | 100% | no limit | 29 | 354 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1942 to 2016 | 60 | 100% | no limit | 36.2 | 117 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Manganese 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 31% | no limit | 0 | 23.7 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1991 to 2016 | 32 | 31% | no limit | 0 | 34 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (8), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are gross alpha (15% of 13 samples) and nitrate (6% of 32 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 Donley County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)5 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Gross alpha15% of 13 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate6% of 32 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 490 pCi/L.
- UraniumAbove the limit in 1 of 8 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- FluorideDetected in 98% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Donley County
TCEQ records 5 leaking underground storage tank sites in Donley County, among 10 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.
- 5
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 5
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- 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
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Donley 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 Donley County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Donley County?
Arsenic was detected in 66% of 32 public well samples in Donley 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 Donley County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Donley County was 490 pCi/L, with a high of 490 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Donley 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: 716 samples in Donley 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: 2 samples in Donley 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: 10 regulated sites located in Donley 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.