Well Water Nerd

Well water in Menard County, Texas

In Menard County, none of 228 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride, based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.

257 individual samples from 193 wells, 1961 to 2023. 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 Menard 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
1977 to 2023
2793%4%1.1615.210 mg/L
EPA limit
Fluoride
1961 to 2023
22899%0%0.42.74 mg/L
EPA limit
Arsenic
1993 to 2023
2438%0%02.610 ug/L
EPA limit
Lead
1993 to 2023
248%0%02.315 ug/L
EPA limit
Copper
1993 to 2023
2475%0%0.0030.0081.3 mg/L
EPA limit
Radium (226 + 228)
2008 to 2023
1225%0%00.785 pCi/L
EPA limit
Gross alpha
1993 to 2023
1050%0%1.016.415 pCi/L
EPA limit
Chloride
1961 to 2023
257100%no limit30621250 mg/L
nuisance level
Sodium
1961 to 2023
256100%no limit1932420 mg/L
health guideline
Iron
1993 to 2023
2635%no limit0121300 ug/L
nuisance level
Manganese
1993 to 2023
2425%no limit02.34300 ug/L
health guideline

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (8), E. coli (1), Radon (1).

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (4% of 27 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 Menard County

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)2 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
  • Nitrate4% of 27 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • RadonMedian local reading is 530 pCi/L.
  • ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
  • FluorideDetected in 99% of local samples.
  • CopperDetected in 75% of local samples.

Contamination sources on record in Menard County

TCEQ records 2 leaking underground storage tank sites in Menard County, among 4 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.

2
leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
2
lined landfills and transfer facilities

Treatment that fits the local profile

Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Copper
Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Chloride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation

Get your Menard 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 Menard 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 Menard County?

Arsenic was detected in 38% of 24 public well samples in Menard 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 Menard County?

The median radon level across 1 public samples in Menard County was 530 pCi/L, with a high of 530 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.

How often should I test a private well in Menard 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: 917 samples in Menard 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 Menard 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: 4 regulated sites located in Menard 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.