Well water in Ector County, Texas
In Ector County, none of 68 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride, based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
93 individual samples from 76 wells, 1937 to 2012. 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 Ector 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 2004 to 2012 | 10 | 50% | 40% | 1 | 35.1 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1960 to 2012 | 68 | 100% | 0% | 2.27 | 3.58 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1999 to 2012 | 11 | 100% | 0% | 5.85 | 8.7 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2008 to 2012 | 10 | 40% | 0% | 0 | 3.4 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 2004 to 2012 | 10 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 2004 to 2012 | 10 | 90% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.006 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1937 to 2012 | 93 | 100% | no limit | 55 | 1,460 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1960 to 2012 | 68 | 100% | no limit | 76.1 | 1,193 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1999 to 2012 | 11 | 36% | no limit | 0 | 41 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 2004 to 2012 | 10 | 30% | no limit | 0 | 1.9 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Gross alpha (8), Uranium (8).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are arsenic (40% of 10 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 Ector County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)254 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel9 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Arsenic40% of 10 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- Gross alphaAbove the limit in 3 of 8 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- UraniumAbove the limit in 2 of 8 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Ector County
TCEQ records 254 leaking underground storage tank sites and 9 hazardous waste sites in Ector County, among 278 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.
- 254
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 9
- 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
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Ector 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 Ector County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Ector County?
Arsenic was detected in 50% of 10 public well samples in Ector County, and 40% 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 Ector 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: 317 samples in Ector 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: 278 regulated sites located in Ector 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.