Well water in Potter County, Texas
In Potter County, 5% of 38 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for arsenic (10 ug/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
74 individual samples from 35 wells, 1969 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 Potter 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha 1989 to 2021 | 23 | 96% | 9% | 6.33 | 30.4 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1989 to 2024 | 38 | 76% | 5% | 2.91 | 17.2 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1969 to 2024 | 74 | 100% | 4% | 1.58 | 5.1 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1990 to 2024 | 37 | 100% | 0% | 1.3 | 7.7 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1989 to 2024 | 36 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1989 to 2024 | 36 | 44% | 0% | 0 | 0.015 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1989 to 2012 | 32 | 31% | 0% | 0 | 5 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1969 to 2024 | 74 | 99% | no limit | 17.3 | 1,170 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1969 to 2024 | 54 | 100% | no limit | 37.4 | 1,210 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1969 to 2024 | 43 | 23% | no limit | 0 | 999 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1989 to 2024 | 42 | 12% | no limit | 0 | 22 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (8), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are gross alpha (9% of 23 samples), arsenic (5% of 38 samples), and fluoride (4% of 74 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 Potter County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)184 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Gross alpha9% of 23 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic5% of 38 local samples were above the limit.
- Fluoride4% of 74 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 283 pCi/L.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- ChlorideDetected in 99% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Potter County
TCEQ records 184 leaking underground storage tank sites in Potter County, among 197 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.
- 184
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 13
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Gross alpha
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Water softener (cation exchange) for radium; Anion exchange for uranium
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Potter 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 Potter County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Potter County?
Arsenic was detected in 76% of 38 public well samples in Potter County, and 5% 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 Potter County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Potter County was 283 pCi/L, with a high of 283 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Potter 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: 498 samples in Potter 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: 197 regulated sites located in Potter 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.