Well Water Nerd

Well water in Scurry County, Texas

In Scurry County, 19% of 31 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.

59 individual samples from 30 wells, 1960 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 Scurry 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.

ContaminantSamplesDetectedAbove limitMedianHighestLimit
Nitrate
1990 to 2024
3165%19%1.6218.310 mg/L
EPA limit
Arsenic
1990 to 2024
3263%9%2.8611.610 ug/L
EPA limit
Uranium
2008 to 2024
1191%9%5.291.930 ug/L
EPA limit
Gross alpha
1990 to 2024
2488%8%6.384915 pCi/L
EPA limit
Fluoride
1960 to 2024
5997%2%1.489.24 mg/L
EPA limit
Radium (226 + 228)
1990 to 2012
4060%0%0.43.65 pCi/L
EPA limit
Lead
1990 to 2024
320%0%0015 ug/L
EPA limit
Copper
1990 to 2024
3250%0%0.0010.011.3 mg/L
EPA limit
Chloride
1960 to 2024
59100%no limit44.4413250 mg/L
nuisance level
Sodium
1960 to 2024
59100%no limit60.232820 mg/L
health guideline
Manganese
1990 to 2024
3250%no limit0.13304300 ug/L
health guideline
Iron
1990 to 2024
3259%no limit9.581,693300 ug/L
nuisance level

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (19% of 31 samples), arsenic (9% of 32 samples), and uranium (9% of 11 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 Scurry County

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)38 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
  • Nitrate19% of 31 local samples were above the limit.
  • Arsenic9% of 32 local samples were above the limit.
  • Uranium9% of 11 local samples were above the limit.
  • Gross alpha8% of 24 local samples were above the limit.
  • Fluoride2% of 59 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.

Contamination sources on record in Scurry County

TCEQ records 38 leaking underground storage tank sites in Scurry County, among 41 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.

38
leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
3
lined landfills and transfer facilities

Treatment that fits the local profile

Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
Arsenic
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
Uranium
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; 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

Get your Scurry 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 Scurry County.

What are you worried about?

The test is free and there is no obligation. Your details go only to the company named above, and we log the time and address of this request.

Common questions

Is there arsenic in well water in Scurry County?

Arsenic was detected in 63% of 32 public well samples in Scurry County, and 9% 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 Scurry 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: 443 samples in Scurry 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: 41 regulated sites located in Scurry 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.