Groundwater in Midland County contains radon, arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, uranium, lead, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Several of these contaminants are present at concerning concentrations and warrant attention from well owners.
These contaminants come from different sources in the geology and land use of the area. Radon and uranium occur naturally in the rock layers of the High Plains aquifer. Arsenic also appears naturally in some rock formations here. Nitrate typically enters groundwater from fertilizer use on farms and ranches, which is common across this region.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium that dissolve from the rock as water moves underground. The High Plains aquifer has layers that contain these minerals, and as water sits in the ground for years, it picks up more of them. Iron and sulfate are also present at moderate levels. These hard-water characteristics are widespread across wells in Midland County.
Wells in Midland County can contain arsenic, fluoride, lead, uranium, and radon at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium can damage kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms children's brain development and learning. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk. Fluoride and nitrate at high levels can cause dental problems and affect infants and young children.
County well water tends to be very hard, which means scale buildup on fixtures, reduced water pressure in showerheads, and stiffness in hair and clothes. You may notice reddish or brown staining from iron. Hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Some people report a slightly salty or sulfur taste in very hard water areas.
We recommend testing your well water to find out what is actually in it, since every well is different and yours could have much higher or lower levels than the county average. A comprehensive testing panel checks for metals, minerals, and contaminants and costs between $200 and $400. Testing is the only way to know what treatment your well needs, whether that is a water softener, an arsenic filter, or another solution.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 2 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 167 | 33% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 29 | 24% | Moderate | High | |
| Uranium | 52 | 15% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 14% | Low | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 452 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 7% | Low | Moderate | |
| Iron | 173 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 175 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Lead | 164 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 2* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 2* | 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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