Well water in Hartley County, Texas
In Hartley County, none of 32 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.
32 individual samples from 15 wells, 1980 to 2021. 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 Hartley 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 1995 to 2021 | 18 | 50% | 6% | 0.059 | 7.1 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1980 to 2021 | 32 | 100% | 0% | 1.47 | 2.15 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1991 to 2021 | 29 | 83% | 0% | 2.9 | 4.21 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1991 to 2021 | 29 | 97% | 0% | 1.73 | 3.39 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1991 to 2021 | 28 | 7% | 0% | 0 | 5.85 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1991 to 2021 | 28 | 14% | 0% | 0 | 0.002 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1999 to 2021 | 23 | 100% | 0% | 6.58 | 14.9 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Sodium 1980 to 2021 | 30 | 100% | no limit | 23.9 | 86 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Chloride 1980 to 2021 | 30 | 100% | no limit | 14.1 | 27 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1991 to 2021 | 29 | 28% | no limit | 0 | 18.9 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1991 to 2021 | 29 | 17% | no limit | 0 | 410 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Gross alpha (9), PFOA (1), PFOS (1), E. coli (1), Radon (4).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (6% of 18 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 Hartley County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)2 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Radium (226 + 228)6% of 18 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 555 pCi/L.
- Gross alphaAbove the limit in 1 of 9 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 Hartley County
TCEQ records 2 leaking underground storage tank sites in Hartley County, among 7 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.
- 2
- 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
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Hartley 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 Hartley County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Hartley County?
Arsenic was detected in 83% of 29 public well samples in Hartley 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 Hartley County?
The median radon level across 4 public samples in Hartley County was 555 pCi/L, with a high of 680 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Hartley 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: 288 samples in Hartley 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: 33 samples in Hartley 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: 7 regulated sites located in Hartley 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.