Well water in Lavaca County, Texas
In Lavaca County, 11% of 37 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for gross alpha (15 pCi/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
107 individual samples from 54 wells, 1962 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 Lavaca 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium 2009 to 2025 | 27 | 41% | 15% | 0 | 56.3 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1992 to 2025 | 37 | 57% | 11% | 2.8 | 40.1 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1992 to 2025 | 69 | 25% | 6% | 0 | 14.2 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1962 to 2025 | 91 | 98% | 0% | 0.4 | 2 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1992 to 2025 | 70 | 71% | 0% | 0.19 | 2.59 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1992 to 2025 | 69 | 4% | 0% | 0 | 5.65 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1992 to 2025 | 69 | 61% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.013 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2009 to 2025 | 44 | 32% | 0% | 0 | 4.16 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1962 to 2025 | 107 | 100% | no limit | 105 | 510 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1962 to 2025 | 90 | 100% | no limit | 89.8 | 280 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1962 to 2025 | 75 | 33% | no limit | 0 | 1,000 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1992 to 2025 | 69 | 35% | no limit | 0 | 93 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Get the free Lavaca County well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Lavaca County, exactly which tests to order, and what treatment fits the local profile. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are uranium (15% of 27 samples), gross alpha (11% of 37 samples), and arsenic (6% of 69 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 Lavaca County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)50 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Uranium15% of 27 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha11% of 37 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic6% of 69 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- FluorideDetected in 98% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Lavaca County
TCEQ records 50 leaking underground storage tank sites in Lavaca County, among 54 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.
- 50
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 4
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Uranium
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Whole-house anion exchange
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- 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
Get your Lavaca 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 Lavaca County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Lavaca County?
Arsenic was detected in 25% of 69 public well samples in Lavaca County, and 6% 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 Lavaca 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: 817 samples in Lavaca 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: 54 regulated sites located in Lavaca 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.