Groundwater in Reeves County can have quality problems

Reeves County sits above the Pecos Valley Aquifer. This is one of the major aquifers in West Texas. The freshwater layer is about 250 feet thick on average. Most water pumped from it goes to farm irrigation, not drinking.

Water quality varies across the aquifer. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) reports that some areas have chloride and sulfate levels above safe drinking limits. Past oil field activity is part of the reason. Arsenic and radionuclides (radioactive minerals) can also run too high in some spots.

If you buy land or a home with a well, test the water before you use it. Around here you can't take it on faith that it's safe. The Reeves County Groundwater Conservation District manages the aquifer for the county. Its boundaries match Reeves County. Contact TWDB or the local district for current water-quality data, ideally before you drill a new well.