Well water in El Paso County, Texas
In El Paso County, none of 59 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for uranium, based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal and Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
59 individual samples from 53 wells, 1952 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 El Paso 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1983 to 2016 | 11 | 73% | 9% | 0.81 | 10.2 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1995 to 2016 | 59 | 86% | 0% | 1.97 | 16 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1952 to 2003 | 29 | 100% | 0% | 0.6 | 2 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2003 to 2014 | 16 | 88% | 0% | 0.365 | 0.6 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1952 to 2000 | 32 | 100% | no limit | 241 | 1,130 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1952 to 2004 | 32 | 100% | no limit | 205 | 1,100 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Radon 1995 to 2014 | 18 | 100% | no limit | 296 | 890 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1952 to 2000 | 14 | 93% | no limit | 100 | 4,120 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1978 to 2016 | 11 | 91% | no limit | 10 | 20 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Arsenic (3), E. coli (8), Lead (5), Copper (3).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (9% of 11 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 El Paso County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)600 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Nitrate9% of 11 local samples were above the limit.
- RadonMedian local reading is 296 pCi/L.
- ArsenicAbove the limit in 2 of 3 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- E. coliAbove the limit in 1 of 8 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- CopperDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in El Paso County
TCEQ records 600 leaking underground storage tank sites and 2 hazardous waste sites in El Paso County, among 626 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.
- 600
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 24
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- 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
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
Get your El Paso 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 El Paso County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in El Paso County?
Arsenic was detected in 100% of 3 public well samples in El Paso County, and 67% 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 El Paso County?
The median radon level across 18 public samples in El Paso County was 296 pCi/L, with a high of 890 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in El Paso 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
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 139 samples in El Paso 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.
- Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database: 102 samples in El Paso 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: 626 regulated sites located in El Paso 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.