Well owners in Dallas County should be aware of arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, pfoa, and pfos in their groundwater. Multiple of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant testing and potential treatment.
These contaminants come from two sources. Arsenic and fluoride occur naturally in the rock and soil as water sits underground. Pfoa and pfos are human-made chemicals that enter groundwater from industrial sites, landfills, and other sources on the land surface.
Groundwater in Dallas County is notably high in sodium and sulfate, which come from the rock layers beneath the surface. As water sits underground and moves through different rock types, it dissolves these minerals. Many wells across the county show these elevated sodium and sulfate levels.
Wells in Dallas County exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, PFOA, and PFOS. Arsenic can harm your kidneys and increase cancer risk. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage tooth enamel in children. Manganese affects brain development. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that accumulate in your body and may cause health problems over time.
Your county's water also contains very high sodium and high sulfate, which can affect taste and create a salty flavor. The moderate iron can cause rust-colored stains on fixtures and laundry. These minerals may also build up in pipes and appliances like water heaters.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards--testing typically costs $200 to $400. Your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county, and testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. Reverse osmosis systems or targeted filters can address these concerns once you know your specific levels.
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 | 415 | 17% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 162 | 7% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 162 | 7% | High | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 669 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Manganese | 324 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 81 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 162 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Lead | 81 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 162 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 162 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 162 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | 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.
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