Well water in Victoria County, Texas
In Victoria County, 5% of 44 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
101 individual samples from 50 wells, 1934 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 Victoria 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1997 to 2025 | 44 | 75% | 5% | 0.877 | 13.1 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Gross alpha 1992 to 2025 | 24 | 54% | 4% | 3 | 67 | 15 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1992 to 2025 | 50 | 64% | 2% | 2.59 | 10.8 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1959 to 2025 | 97 | 96% | 0% | 0.31 | 1.5 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1992 to 2025 | 50 | 56% | 0% | 0.002 | 0.02 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1992 to 2025 | 50 | 12% | 0% | 0 | 3.7 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2009 to 2025 | 25 | 52% | 0% | 1.45 | 4.16 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 2009 to 2013 | 24 | 63% | 0% | 0.28 | 2.74 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1934 to 2025 | 101 | 100% | no limit | 121 | 850 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1934 to 2025 | 101 | 100% | no limit | 87 | 346 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1934 to 2025 | 58 | 33% | no limit | 0 | 5,000 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1992 to 2025 | 50 | 32% | no limit | 0 | 292 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (5% of 44 samples), gross alpha (4% of 24 samples), and arsenic (2% of 50 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 Victoria County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)136 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Nitrate5% of 44 local samples were above the limit.
- Gross alpha4% of 24 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic2% of 50 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- FluorideDetected in 96% of local samples.
- CopperDetected in 56% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Victoria County
TCEQ records 136 leaking underground storage tank sites in Victoria County, among 143 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.
- 136
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 7
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- 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
- Copper
- Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Victoria 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 Victoria County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Victoria County?
Arsenic was detected in 64% of 50 public well samples in Victoria County, and 2% 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 Victoria 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: 669 samples in Victoria 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: 5 samples in Victoria 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: 143 regulated sites located in Victoria 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.