Groundwater in Gaines County contains arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, uranium, nitrate, chloride, iron, and manganese. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a real concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the rock layers below and from human activities on the land. The High Plains aquifer sits in sandy and gravelly sediment that naturally holds minerals like sulfate and uranium. Nitrate and chloride often seep down from agricultural and ranching operations common across West Texas. Arsenic and fluoride occur naturally in the deep groundwater here because of the rock composition.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and high in sodium and sulfate, driven by minerals dissolved from the sediment and rock layers. The High Plains aquifer sits in an area where water moves slowly through sandy layers, allowing minerals to build up over time. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout Gaines County.
Arsenic, uranium, fluoride, and nitrate are found at unsafe levels in wells across Gaines County. Arsenic and uranium can cause cancer and damage your bones and kidneys. Fluoride at high levels harms tooth enamel, especially in children. Nitrate is dangerous for infants and can affect how blood carries oxygen in the body.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which means scale builds up in pipes and on fixtures. Iron staining leaves reddish marks on sinks and laundry. High sulfate content creates a bitter taste and rotten-egg smell. The hardness wears out water heaters and dishwashers faster than normal, shortening their lifespan and costing you money for repairs and replacements.
We recommend a comprehensive water test right away since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in your county. Your well is unique and could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. A complete metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400 and will tell you what you are dealing with. Treatment options like reverse osmosis, activated carbon filters, or ion exchange systems can address these problems.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 217 | 76% | High | High | |
| Fluoride | 1104 | 51% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 19 | 37% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 19 | 32% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 62 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 268 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| Uranium | 75 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 253 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 215 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 19 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 6 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 20 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 19 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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