Aransas County well water contains radon, chloride, and manganese that well owners should know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, including arsenic, fluoride, iron, and radon, making testing important for your household.
The coastal lowlands aquifer system here sits in an area where underground layers naturally hold these elements. Saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has seeped into the freshwater below over time, bringing chloride with it. Radon comes from the natural breakdown of rock deep underground. Iron, manganese, and arsenic wash into the water as it filters through the rock layers beneath your property.
Aransas County groundwater is very hard, driven by high sodium and elevated calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rock. The coastal plain's sandy and clay layers allow minerals to concentrate as water moves through them. Most wells in this county show these hard-water characteristics, though your individual well may vary.
Wells in Aransas County show several contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and can cause cancer and organ damage. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from underground rocks and can cause lung cancer when you breathe it in over years. Fluoride at very high levels can damage your bones and teeth. Manganese can harm your nervous system and affect how your brain works. Chloride itself is not poisonous, but at the high levels found in county wells it can cause problems for people with heart disease or high blood pressure.
The water in many county wells is extremely hard, which means it leaves white crusty scale on fixtures, in pipes, and inside appliances. This scale can shorten how long your water heater and dishwasher last. You may notice your clothes feel stiff after washing, and soap does not clean well. The very high sodium in county groundwater can give your water a salty taste. Iron in the water can stain your laundry, dishes, and plumbing fixtures an orange or brown color.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out exactly what is in your water. Your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county, so testing is the only real way to know what you actually have. A comprehensive panel runs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Depending on your results, treatment options like a water softener, reverse osmosis filter, or radon removal system can help protect your family.
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 ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 174 | 64% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 22 | 55% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 16 | 50% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 48 | 42% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 162 | 23% | High | High | |
| Fluoride | 184 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 38 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| 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 | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 155 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 75 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 162 | — | High | 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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