Groundwater in Andrews County contains arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, and nitrate that well owners should know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and awareness important for this area.
The rock layers beneath Andrews County naturally hold arsenic and fluoride from the minerals in the ground. Nitrate seeps down from fertilizer and septic systems used across the county's agricultural and residential lands. Iron and manganese come from the rock itself as water moves through underground layers.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with high levels of sodium and sulfate that define its mineral character. These dissolved minerals accumulate as water travels slowly through the sandy and rocky underground formations common to the High Plains. Most wells in Andrews County show these elevated mineral and hardness levels.
Wells in Andrews County commonly contain arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, iron, and manganese at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can damage kidneys and increase cancer risk. Fluoride at elevated levels can harm tooth development in children. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Iron and manganese can affect the nervous system and organs with long-term exposure.
The very hard water in this county creates noticeable problems around the house. You will likely see rusty or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Scale builds up inside pipes and water heaters, shortening their lifespan and reducing water flow. Hard water makes soap less effective and can leave spots on dishes and shower doors. Some people notice a slightly salty or metallic taste in the water.
We recommend a comprehensive water testing panel to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to know what treatment your specific water needs. A full metals and minerals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Depending on your results, treatment options like reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can remove or reduce 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 190 | 42% | High | High | |
| Fluoride | 352 | 27% | High | High | |
| Iron | 196 | 12% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 34 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 192 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 190 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 64 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | Low | 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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