Well water in Mills County, Texas
In Mills County, none of 54 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride, based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
54 individual samples from 34 wells, 1946 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 Mills 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1971 to 2023 | 16 | 81% | 13% | 2.95 | 18.9 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1946 to 2023 | 54 | 100% | 0% | 0.8 | 1.8 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1994 to 2023 | 13 | 15% | 0% | 0 | 2.5 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1994 to 2023 | 13 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1994 to 2023 | 13 | 62% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.007 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1946 to 2023 | 54 | 100% | no limit | 71 | 520 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1946 to 2023 | 54 | 100% | no limit | 56 | 227 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1946 to 2023 | 16 | 56% | no limit | 9.5 | 600 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1949 to 2023 | 15 | 33% | no limit | 0 | 23 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Gross alpha (6), Uranium (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (13% of 16 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 Iron 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 Mills County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)8 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Nitrate13% of 16 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.
- CopperDetected in 62% of local samples.
- IronDetected in 56% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Mills County
TCEQ records 8 leaking underground storage tank sites in Mills County, among 9 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.
- 8
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 1
- lined landfill or transfer facility
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
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
Get your Mills 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 Mills County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Mills County?
Arsenic was detected in 0% of 13 public well samples in Mills 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 often should I test a private well in Mills 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: 255 samples in Mills 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: 9 regulated sites located in Mills 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.