Well water in Live Oak County, Texas
In Live Oak County, 30% 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.
89 individual samples from 41 wells, 1911 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 Live Oak 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 1990 to 2025 | 37 | 70% | 30% | 4.4 | 33 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1990 to 2025 | 59 | 68% | 24% | 3.17 | 569 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1990 to 2025 | 59 | 71% | 7% | 0.17 | 29.5 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2009 to 2013 | 26 | 69% | 4% | 0.25 | 5.72 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1940 to 2025 | 70 | 100% | 0% | 0.9 | 2.76 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1990 to 2025 | 59 | 61% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.01 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1990 to 2025 | 59 | 2% | 0% | 0 | 3.83 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2009 to 2025 | 21 | 57% | 0% | 3.46 | 29.3 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1911 to 2025 | 89 | 100% | no limit | 461 | 1,180 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1911 to 2025 | 74 | 100% | no limit | 276 | 1,264 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1911 to 2025 | 61 | 46% | no limit | 0 | 2,400 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1990 to 2025 | 59 | 53% | no limit | 1.45 | 81 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are gross alpha (30% of 37 samples), arsenic (24% of 59 samples), and nitrate (7% of 59 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 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 Live Oak County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)22 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Gross alpha30% of 37 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic24% of 59 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate7% of 59 local samples were above the limit.
- Radium (226 + 228)4% of 26 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Live Oak County
TCEQ records 22 leaking underground storage tank sites in Live Oak County, among 33 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.
- 22
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 11
- 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
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Get your Live Oak 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 Live Oak County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Live Oak County?
Arsenic was detected in 68% of 59 public well samples in Live Oak County, and 24% 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 Live Oak 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: 673 samples in Live Oak 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: 33 regulated sites located in Live Oak 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.