Well water in Nueces County, Texas
In Nueces County, none of 54 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride, based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
72 individual samples from 39 wells, 1950 to 2015. 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 Nueces 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 1991 to 2015 | 19 | 74% | 63% | 11 | 20 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1991 to 2009 | 10 | 70% | 10% | 7.2 | 20 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1965 to 2015 | 54 | 100% | 0% | 1.31 | 3.2 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1991 to 2015 | 19 | 68% | 0% | 0.498 | 3.88 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1991 to 2015 | 19 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1991 to 2015 | 19 | 47% | 0% | 0 | 0.011 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1950 to 2015 | 72 | 100% | no limit | 643 | 2,000 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1950 to 2015 | 72 | 100% | no limit | 620 | 1,830 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1950 to 2015 | 23 | 78% | no limit | 92.5 | 1,700 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1991 to 2015 | 19 | 74% | no limit | 19 | 411 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (4), Radium (226 + 228) (2).
Get the free Nueces County well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Nueces 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 arsenic (63% of 19 samples) and gross alpha (10% of 10 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, Iron, 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 Nueces County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)716 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel5 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Arsenic63% of 19 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha10% of 10 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- UraniumAbove the limit in 1 of 4 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Nueces County
TCEQ records 716 leaking underground storage tank sites and 5 hazardous waste sites in Nueces County, among 749 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.
- 716
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 5
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 28
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- 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
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
Get your Nueces 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 Nueces County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Nueces County?
Arsenic was detected in 74% of 19 public well samples in Nueces County, and 63% 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 Nueces 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: 332 samples in Nueces 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: 749 regulated sites located in Nueces 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.