Well water in Swisher County, Texas
In Swisher County, 19% of 43 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.
43 individual samples from 11 wells, 1939 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 Swisher 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride 1939 to 2024 | 43 | 100% | 19% | 2.6 | 4.89 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1991 to 2024 | 40 | 83% | 8% | 4.88 | 13 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1991 to 2024 | 40 | 5% | 0% | 0 | 3.69 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1991 to 2024 | 40 | 100% | 0% | 1.19 | 4.01 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1996 to 2024 | 34 | 56% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.814 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2008 to 2016 | 26 | 12% | 0% | 0 | 1.31 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1991 to 2024 | 20 | 85% | 0% | 5.9 | 10.9 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2001 to 2024 | 18 | 100% | 0% | 5.63 | 9.97 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1939 to 2024 | 43 | 100% | no limit | 17.8 | 81.9 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1939 to 2024 | 43 | 100% | no limit | 41.6 | 72.9 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1991 to 2024 | 40 | 28% | no limit | 0 | 864 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1991 to 2024 | 40 | 48% | no limit | 0 | 46.8 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (19% of 43 samples) and arsenic (8% of 40 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 Swisher County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)20 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Fluoride19% of 43 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic8% of 40 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 440 pCi/L.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- CopperDetected in 56% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Swisher County
TCEQ records 20 leaking underground storage tank sites and 1 hazardous waste site in Swisher County, among 27 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.
- 20
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 1
- hazardous waste siteSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 6
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Swisher 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 Swisher County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Swisher County?
Arsenic was detected in 83% of 40 public well samples in Swisher County, and 8% 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 Swisher County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Swisher County was 440 pCi/L, with a high of 440 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Swisher 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: 425 samples in Swisher 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: 3 samples in Swisher 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: 27 regulated sites located in Swisher 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.