Chloride, arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, iron, manganese, and sulfate are all present in Bee County groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
The coastal lowlands aquifer system here contains naturally occurring arsenic, iron, and manganese in its sediment and rock layers. Chloride enters from seawater that has seeped into the aquifer over time due to the county's low elevation and proximity to the coast. Nitrate comes from agricultural fertilizers and septic systems that leach down through the soil into the water below.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of sodium, calcium, and magnesium dissolved from the surrounding rock. The flat coastal terrain and the mineral-rich sediments of the lowlands aquifer system concentrate these dissolved minerals as water moves slowly underground. Hard water with elevated sodium is common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Bee County commonly contain arsenic, nitrate, and fluoride at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic can harm your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Fluoride at high levels can weaken tooth enamel and affect bone health.
The county's water is very hard with high sodium content. You may notice white crusty scale building up inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances like dishwashers. This hard water can shorten the lifespan of your water heater and other equipment. Iron in the water can leave orange or rust-colored stains on sinks and laundry. You might also notice a salty taste or a rotten egg smell from sulfate.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which usually costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common across the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. Depending on your results, treatment options like carbon filters, ion exchange systems, or reverse osmosis can remove many of these contaminants.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | 232 | 54% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 48 | 35% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 128 | 24% | High | High | |
| Iron | 53 | 15% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 51 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 185 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 412 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 48 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 183 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 105 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 7 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 183 | — | 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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