Well water in Liberty County, Texas
In Liberty County, 2% of 43 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for radium (226 + 228) (5 pCi/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
74 individual samples from 43 wells, 1942 to 2024. 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 Liberty 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) 2002 to 2014 | 43 | 81% | 2% | 0.47 | 8.45 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1945 to 2013 | 51 | 94% | 0% | 0.23 | 1.4 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1992 to 2014 | 44 | 25% | 0% | 0 | 2.87 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1994 to 2024 | 40 | 43% | 0% | 0 | 3 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1992 to 2013 | 38 | 32% | 0% | 0 | 0.026 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1992 to 2013 | 38 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1945 to 2013 | 36 | 14% | 0% | 0 | 8.63 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1992 to 2013 | 12 | 58% | 0% | 2.8 | 10.7 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1942 to 2013 | 74 | 100% | no limit | 52.7 | 425 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1942 to 2013 | 68 | 100% | no limit | 47.9 | 388 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1942 to 2013 | 56 | 77% | no limit | 82 | 5,200 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1992 to 2014 | 39 | 92% | no limit | 98.1 | 534 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Radon 2002 to 2014 | 11 | 100% | no limit | 280 | 720 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: E. coli (8), PFOA (4), PFOS (4).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (2% of 43 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 Liberty County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)105 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel3 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Radium (226 + 228)2% of 43 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 280 pCi/L.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- FluorideDetected in 94% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 92% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Liberty County
TCEQ records 105 leaking underground storage tank sites and 3 hazardous waste sites in Liberty County, among 119 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.
- 105
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 3
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 11
- 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
- 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 Liberty 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 Liberty County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Liberty County?
Arsenic was detected in 25% of 44 public well samples in Liberty 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 Liberty County?
The median radon level across 11 public samples in Liberty County was 280 pCi/L, with a high of 720 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Liberty 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: 490 samples in Liberty 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: 76 samples in Liberty 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: 119 regulated sites located in Liberty 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.