Groundwater in Reeves County contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, radon, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Several of these contaminants reach high or very high concentrations and require your attention.
The rock underneath this county naturally contains these minerals and elements. Water moving through the rock dissolves them over time, and in some areas salty or mineral-rich layers add chloride and sulfate. Human activities like agriculture and oil and gas operations can push nitrate and other contaminants into the groundwater as well.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium, and it carries very high sulfate and high sodium dissolved from the local rock. The underlying geology here is naturally mineral-rich, which means water picks up these dissolved solids as it flows through. These characteristics show up across most wells in the county.
Wells in Reeves County commonly contain arsenic, lead, radon, nitrate, and fluoride at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that build up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys, nervous system, and bones. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when breathed in for years. Nitrate harms infants and can reduce oxygen in the blood. Fluoride at high levels can weaken tooth enamel and damage bones.
The water in this county is very hard and very salty, which creates real problems at home. You will likely see rust staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Scale buildup clogs pipes and shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The water may taste salty or smell like rotten eggs from high sulfate levels. Appliances and plumbing fixtures wear out faster in water this hard.
We recommend a comprehensive water test right away since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in county wells. Your well is unique and could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A full metals and minerals panel runs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can address multiple contaminants depending on what testing shows.
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 | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 4 | 75% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 425 | 15% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 364 | 15% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 83 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 310 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 832 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 283 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 48 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 4 | — | Low | 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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