Well water in Orange County, Texas
In Orange County, none of 60 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.
281 individual samples from 143 wells, 1941 to 2025. 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 Orange 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 2005 to 2013 | 20 | 65% | 5% | 0.057 | 13.2 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1941 to 2025 | 60 | 100% | 0% | 0.4 | 1.8 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2005 to 2025 | 11 | 9% | 0% | 0 | 0.006 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1941 to 2025 | 281 | 100% | no limit | 74 | 1,410 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1941 to 2025 | 113 | 100% | no limit | 90 | 878 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1941 to 2025 | 29 | 90% | no limit | 100 | 6,440 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Arsenic (8), Nitrate (8), Lead (8), Copper (8), Gross alpha (6), E. coli (5), Manganese (9), Radon (7).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (5% of 20 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 Orange County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)179 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel3 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Radium (226 + 228)5% of 20 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 150 pCi/L.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Orange County
TCEQ records 179 leaking underground storage tank sites and 3 hazardous waste sites in Orange County, among 192 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.
- 179
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 3
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 10
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- 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
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Orange 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 Orange County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Orange County?
Arsenic was detected in 0% of 8 public well samples in Orange 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 Orange County?
The median radon level across 7 public samples in Orange County was 150 pCi/L, with a high of 260 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Orange 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: 533 samples in Orange 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: 40 samples in Orange 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: 192 regulated sites located in Orange 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.