Well water in Duval County, Texas
In Duval County, 50% of 78 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for arsenic (10 ug/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
158 individual samples from 85 wells, 1913 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 Duval 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 1990 to 2025 | 78 | 86% | 50% | 10.4 | 123 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1974 to 2025 | 46 | 78% | 35% | 9 | 39 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1975 to 2025 | 79 | 97% | 10% | 4.96 | 62 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1990 to 2025 | 72 | 71% | 10% | 0.455 | 10.5 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1913 to 2025 | 135 | 99% | <1% | 1 | 5.94 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1990 to 2025 | 78 | 5% | 0% | 0 | 2 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1990 to 2025 | 78 | 72% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.021 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1990 to 2025 | 41 | 95% | 0% | 5.56 | 25.7 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1913 to 2025 | 158 | 100% | no limit | 433 | 3,216 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1913 to 2025 | 138 | 100% | no limit | 325 | 1,567 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1913 to 2025 | 90 | 23% | no limit | 0 | 2,810 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1990 to 2025 | 78 | 41% | no limit | 0 | 366 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: E. coli (1), Radon (2).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are arsenic (50% of 78 samples), gross alpha (35% of 46 samples), and nitrate (10% of 79 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 Duval County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)22 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Arsenic50% of 78 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha35% of 46 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate10% of 79 local samples were above the limit.
- Radium (226 + 228)10% of 72 local samples were above the limit.
- Fluoride<1% of 135 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 434 pCi/L.
Contamination sources on record in Duval County
TCEQ records 22 leaking underground storage tank sites in Duval County, among 28 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.
- 22
- 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
- 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
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Get your Duval 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 Duval County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Duval County?
Arsenic was detected in 86% of 78 public well samples in Duval County, and 50% 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 Duval County?
The median radon level across 2 public samples in Duval County was 434 pCi/L, with a high of 488 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Duval 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: 1,063 samples in Duval 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: 11 samples in Duval 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: 28 regulated sites located in Duval 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.