Groundwater in Bell County contains chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, perfluorinated chemicals, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These contaminants arise from both natural and human sources. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the local rock. Chloride and sulfate build up in groundwater as rainwater slowly moves through soil and rock layers. Fluoride occurs naturally in the local geology. Lead and the perfluorinated chemicals enter from industrial or urban land uses and past practices in the area.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium dissolved from the local rock as water filters down. The moderate iron present adds to the overall mineral load. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Bell County contain several contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. Chloride, fluoride, lead, and manganese can all harm your health at elevated levels. Fluoride in high amounts can damage bone and tooth enamel. Lead harms brain development in children and causes kidney damage in adults. Manganese at high concentrations affects the nervous system. PFOS and PFHXS are industrial chemicals that build up in your body and raise health concerns.
The county's water is very hard, which creates everyday problems in your home. Hard water leaves spots on dishes and scales up inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances. You may notice staining on fixtures from iron in the water. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Some people also taste a chalky or metallic flavor in their water.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well, since every well is different and your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel that checks for all these contaminants. A full panel typically costs between $200 and $400. Water softeners and reverse osmosis systems can help treat hard water and remove metals.
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 | 393 | 26% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 43 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 592 | 14% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 42 | 5% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 321 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 108 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 110 | 2% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 108 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 108 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 108 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 70 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 108 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 108 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 67 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 44 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 107 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 43 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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.
Loading recent water news…