Well water in Grimes County, Texas
In Grimes County, none of 101 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride, based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
133 individual samples from 121 wells, 1942 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 Grimes 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 1992 to 2025 | 11 | 55% | 18% | 4.6 | 22 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1942 to 2025 | 101 | 95% | 0% | 0.27 | 1.8 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1992 to 2025 | 15 | 7% | 0% | 0 | 0.661 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1992 to 2025 | 14 | 64% | 0% | 0.029 | 0.194 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1992 to 2025 | 14 | 14% | 0% | 0 | 9 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1992 to 2025 | 14 | 7% | 0% | 0 | 0.015 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1942 to 2025 | 133 | 100% | no limit | 97 | 1,575 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1942 to 2025 | 106 | 100% | no limit | 109 | 1,100 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1970 to 2025 | 70 | 81% | no limit | 100 | 17,000 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1992 to 2025 | 14 | 64% | no limit | 51.4 | 794 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radium (226 + 228) (6), Uranium (6), E. coli (1), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are gross alpha (18% 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 Grimes County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)40 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Gross alpha18% of 11 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 1,480 pCi/L.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- FluorideDetected in 95% of local samples.
- IronDetected in 81% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Grimes County
TCEQ records 40 leaking underground storage tank sites in Grimes County, among 46 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.
- 40
- 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
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Grimes 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 Grimes County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Grimes County?
Arsenic was detected in 14% of 14 public well samples in Grimes 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 Grimes County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Grimes County was 1,480 pCi/L, with a high of 1,480 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Grimes 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: 493 samples in Grimes 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: 13 samples in Grimes 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: 46 regulated sites located in Grimes 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.