Water Supply
Groundwater in Reeves County can have quality problems
The Pecos Valley Aquifer underlies Reeves County, but the water can be salty, hard, or contaminated from old oil field activity.
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 be too high in some spots.
If you buy land or a home with a well, test the water before you use it. Do not assume it is 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. Do this before you drill a new well.
Source to confirm: TWDB — Pecos Valley Aquifer