Well water in Winkler County, Texas
In Winkler County, 2% of 61 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for fluoride (4 mg/L), based on public data from Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Database.
62 individual samples from 28 wells, 1940 to 2011. 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 Winkler 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 1940 to 2011 | 61 | 100% | 2% | 1.4 | 4.4 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1940 to 2011 | 62 | 100% | no limit | 27 | 1,240 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1940 to 2011 | 61 | 100% | no limit | 24 | 406 | 20 mg/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Arsenic (7), Lead (7), Nitrate (7), Copper (7), Radium (226 + 228) (5), Gross alpha (4), Uranium (1), Iron (7), Manganese (7).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are fluoride (2% of 61 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 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 Winkler County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)13 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Fluoride2% of 61 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- ArsenicAbove the limit in 2 of 7 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Winkler County
TCEQ records 13 leaking underground storage tank sites and 1 hazardous waste site in Winkler County, among 18 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.
- 13
- 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.
- 4
- 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
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Winkler 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 Winkler County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Winkler County?
Arsenic was detected in 71% of 7 public well samples in Winkler County, and 29% 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 Winkler 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: 236 samples in Winkler 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: 18 regulated sites located in Winkler 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.