Groundwater in Wheeler County contains chloride, sulfate, iron, fluoride, manganese, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present in amounts serious enough to warrant attention and testing.
These contaminants come from two main sources. Salts like chloride and sulfate occur naturally in the underground layers of sand and gravel that make up the High Plains aquifer in this region. Nitrate enters from agricultural activities on the land above, seeping down through the soil into the water below. Iron and manganese also come from the rock itself, released as water moves through the underground layers over time.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of calcium and magnesium that dissolve from the rock as water passes through it. The sandy and gravelly underground layers here contain these minerals in abundance, and water picks them up naturally as it flows through. Elevated hardness is a widespread characteristic across wells throughout Wheeler County.
Wells in Wheeler County commonly have chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Fluoride in drinking water can affect tooth development in young children. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can interfere with how blood carries oxygen. Manganese and iron at elevated levels can affect your nervous system and organs over time.
Water in this county is very hard, which causes white crusty scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. The hardness wears out water heaters and dishwashers faster than normal. You may notice a metallic or salty taste in your water, and soap does not lather well, leaving a film on skin and hair.
We recommend testing your well water, since every well is different and yours 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 comprehensive metals and minerals panel usually costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Water softeners and iron filters are treatment options that can help.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | 3 | 33% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 3 | 33% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 98 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 23 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 94 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 263 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 58 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 57 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 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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