Well water in Mitchell County, Texas
In Mitchell County, 10% of 77 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
98 individual samples from 69 wells, 1946 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 Mitchell 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 1990 to 2024 | 26 | 96% | 42% | 9.19 | 54.4 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1990 to 2024 | 19 | 84% | 11% | 5 | 32 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1963 to 2024 | 77 | 100% | 10% | 1.3 | 7.4 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1990 to 2016 | 30 | 60% | 3% | 0.35 | 8.4 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1990 to 2024 | 25 | 8% | 0% | 0 | 1.26 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1990 to 2024 | 25 | 40% | 0% | 0 | 4.79 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1990 to 2024 | 25 | 44% | 0% | 0 | 0.034 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1946 to 2024 | 98 | 100% | no limit | 114 | 2,240 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1946 to 2024 | 98 | 100% | no limit | 125 | 2,140 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1983 to 2024 | 27 | 44% | no limit | 0 | 8,100 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1990 to 2024 | 25 | 56% | no limit | 1.21 | 53 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (4).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (42% of 26 samples), gross alpha (11% of 19 samples), and fluoride (10% of 77 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 Mitchell County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)24 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Nitrate42% of 26 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha11% of 19 local samples were above the limit.
- Fluoride10% of 77 local samples were above the limit.
- Radium (226 + 228)3% of 30 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 56% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Mitchell County
TCEQ records 24 leaking underground storage tank sites and 2 hazardous waste sites in Mitchell County, among 35 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.
- 24
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 9
- 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
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Mitchell 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 Mitchell County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Mitchell County?
Arsenic was detected in 40% of 25 public well samples in Mitchell 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 Mitchell 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: 478 samples in Mitchell 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: 1 samples in Mitchell 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: 35 regulated sites located in Mitchell 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.