Well Water Nerd

Well water in Lynn County, Texas

In Lynn County, 87% of 39 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.

117 individual samples from 81 wells, 1949 to 2012. 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 Lynn 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.

ContaminantSamplesDetectedAbove limitMedianHighestLimit
Nitrate
1990 to 2012
39100%87%20.867.110 mg/L
EPA limit
Gross alpha
1990 to 2012
1292%83%25.97215 pCi/L
EPA limit
Fluoride
1977 to 2012
43100%70%4.939.334 mg/L
EPA limit
Arsenic
1990 to 2012
3795%68%11.861.810 ug/L
EPA limit
Uranium
2001 to 2012
10100%60%30.961.130 ug/L
EPA limit
Copper
1990 to 2012
3876%0%0.0020.2581.3 mg/L
EPA limit
Lead
1990 to 2012
385%0%0415 ug/L
EPA limit
Radium (226 + 228)
1990 to 2012
147%0%015 pCi/L
EPA limit
Chloride
1949 to 2012
117100%no limit3582,473250 mg/L
nuisance level
Sodium
1949 to 2012
110100%no limit2202,95520 mg/L
health guideline
Iron
1990 to 2012
3941%no limit0206300 ug/L
nuisance level
Manganese
1990 to 2012
3850%no limit0.10212.8300 ug/L
health guideline

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radon (1).

Get the free Lynn County well report

One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Lynn 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 nitrate (87% of 39 samples), gross alpha (83% of 12 samples), and fluoride (70% 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 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 Lynn County

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)17 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
  • Nitrate87% of 39 local samples were above the limit.
  • Gross alpha83% of 12 local samples were above the limit.
  • Fluoride70% of 43 local samples were above the limit.
  • Arsenic68% of 37 local samples were above the limit.
  • Uranium60% of 10 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • RadonMedian local reading is 540 pCi/L.

Contamination sources on record in Lynn County

TCEQ records 17 leaking underground storage tank sites in Lynn County, among 21 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.

17
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

Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
Gross alpha
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Arsenic
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
Uranium
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Whole-house anion exchange

Get your Lynn 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 Lynn County.

What are you worried about?

The test is free and there is no obligation. Your details go only to the company named above, and we log the time and address of this request.

Common questions

Is there arsenic in well water in Lynn County?

Arsenic was detected in 95% of 37 public well samples in Lynn County, and 68% 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 Lynn County?

The median radon level across 1 public samples in Lynn County was 540 pCi/L, with a high of 540 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.

How often should I test a private well in Lynn 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: 534 samples in Lynn 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: 2 samples in Lynn 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: 21 regulated sites located in Lynn 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.