Well water in Walker County, Texas
In Walker County, sodium was detected in 100% of 56 tested well samples from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database and USGS Water Quality Portal.
56 individual samples from 37 wells, 1948 to 2017. 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 Walker 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 1967 to 2017 | 29 | 83% | 0% | 0.1 | 0.8 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Sodium 1948 to 2017 | 56 | 100% | no limit | 51 | 416 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Chloride 1948 to 2017 | 55 | 100% | no limit | 60 | 890 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Iron 1976 to 2017 | 16 | 94% | no limit | 455 | 15,000 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radium (226 + 228) (6), Copper (6), Arsenic (6), Lead (6), Nitrate (5), Uranium (5), Gross alpha (4), Manganese (6), Radon (1).
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What this means
Among contaminants with a federal limit, no tested sample in Walker County came back above it. That is reassuring, but sampling is uneven: wells that were never tested are not in this data.
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 Walker County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)63 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 1,080 pCi/L.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
- IronDetected in 94% of local samples.
- FluorideDetected in 83% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Walker County
TCEQ records 63 leaking underground storage tank sites in Walker County, among 75 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.
- 63
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 12
- lined landfills and transfer facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- 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 Walker 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 Walker County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Walker County?
Arsenic was detected in 0% of 6 public well samples in Walker 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 Walker County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Walker County was 1,080 pCi/L, with a high of 1,080 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Walker 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: 197 samples in Walker 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: 4 samples in Walker 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: 75 regulated sites located in Walker 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.