Groundwater in Glasscock County contains uranium, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning levels that warrant attention from well owners.
These contaminants come from the rock layers beneath the county. Uranium and arsenic occur naturally in the sand and sediment of the High Plains aquifer. Nitrate enters the groundwater from fertilizer applied to agricultural land and from septic systems. Fluoride also comes naturally from the rocks underground.
Groundwater in this county contains elevated uranium, arsenic, fluoride, and manganese. These metals and elements dissolve into water as it passes through the sand and sediment layers that make up the aquifer. These contaminants are found across many wells throughout the county.
Wells in Glasscock County can contain arsenic, fluoride, uranium, and nitrate at levels above EPA health standards, along with elevated iron and manganese. Arsenic and uranium are metals that can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Nitrate is especially harmful to babies and can interfere with how the body uses oxygen. Fluoride at high levels can affect bone and tooth development. Iron and manganese at elevated levels can harm the nervous system, particularly in children.
Wells in this county show low iron levels overall, so staining and discoloration are not common concerns here. You may not notice significant aesthetic problems from minerals in your water. However, any iron present can still create a metallic taste or leave rust-colored marks on fixtures over time.
We recommend testing your well water, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel is the best approach given the multiple contaminants of concern, and testing typically costs between $200 and $400. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. Depending on your results, treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or specialized filters can remove these contaminants.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium | 34 | 24% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 55 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 129 | 7% | High | Moderate | |
| Iron | 144 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 381 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Manganese | 124 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 120 | 0% | High | Low |
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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