Iron, arsenic, manganese, chloride, and nitrate are present in Austin County's groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a concern for well owners in this area.
The coastal lowlands aquifer system here naturally contains iron and manganese from the rock layers underground. Arsenic also occurs naturally in some of these geological formations. Chloride and nitrate can come from both natural sources and human activities like agriculture and past oil and gas operations in the region.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The water also contains moderate amounts of iron and sodium. These mineral characteristics are common across wells throughout Austin County, though individual wells vary in their exact composition.
Wells in Austin County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in the body over time and can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk. Nitrate is especially harmful to infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Manganese at elevated levels can affect the nervous system with long-term exposure.
The very hard water in county wells causes visible and annoying problems around your home. You'll likely see reddish or brown staining on fixtures, laundry, and surfaces from iron. White scale buildup happens quickly in pipes, water heaters, and appliances. Hard water at this level can shorten the lifespan of your water heater and dishwasher.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since every well in Austin County is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what's common here. Testing is the only way to know what's actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options like water softeners and iron filters can help reduce these problems.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 153 | 20% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 91 | 18% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 94 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 61 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 48 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 255 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Lead | 91 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 48 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 48 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 46 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 10 | — | Low | Safe | |
| Hardness | 48 | — | Moderate | 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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