Well water in Jim Wells County, Texas
In Jim Wells County, 1% of 73 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
76 individual samples from 58 wells, 1934 to 2013. 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 Jim Wells 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride 1934 to 2005 | 73 | 100% | 1% | 1 | 5.13 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1934 to 2005 | 76 | 100% | no limit | 310 | 3,669 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1934 to 2005 | 76 | 100% | no limit | 301 | 1,630 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1934 to 2005 | 12 | 50% | no limit | 22 | 3,500 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Arsenic (9), Lead (9), Nitrate (9), Copper (9), Gross alpha (4), Radium (226 + 228) (4), Uranium (2), E. coli (1), Manganese (9), Radon (2).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (1% of 73 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 Jim Wells County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)80 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Fluoride1% of 73 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 296 pCi/L.
- ArsenicAbove the limit in 1 of 9 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Jim Wells County
TCEQ records 80 leaking underground storage tank sites in Jim Wells County, among 86 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.
- 80
- 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
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
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Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Jim Wells County?
Arsenic was detected in 44% of 9 public well samples in Jim Wells County, and 11% 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 Jim Wells County?
The median radon level across 2 public samples in Jim Wells County was 296 pCi/L, with a high of 430 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Jim Wells 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: 290 samples in Jim Wells 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: 5 samples in Jim Wells 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: 86 regulated sites located in Jim Wells 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.