Well Water in Gillespie County: What to Test and Why

Well owners in Gillespie County should be aware of iron, nitrate, manganese, fluoride, and lead in their groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, so testing your well is important.

These contaminants come from both natural and human sources in the area. Iron and manganese occur naturally when groundwater moves through the local rock. Nitrate typically enters groundwater from fertilizers used on land above, and lead can come from old plumbing or natural deposits in the rock itself. Fluoride also occurs naturally in the local geology.

Groundwater in this county is moderately high in iron, which comes from the rock formations that hold the water. Iron concentrations vary across different wells in the county depending on where the water sits underground and how long it stays in contact with iron-rich rock. These characteristics are common enough that many wells in this area show elevated iron and other metals.

Wells in Gillespie County have been found with fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, and nitrate at levels above EPA health standards. Fluoride in high amounts can affect bone and teeth development in children. Lead harms brain development and learning in kids and can raise blood pressure in adults. Manganese at elevated levels can affect the nervous system. Nitrate is especially concerning for infants and can interfere with how blood carries oxygen.

Iron and manganese in county well water create orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. These minerals can also leave a metallic taste in drinking water and cause odor problems. The combination of these minerals can build up scale inside pipes and water heaters over time.

We recommend testing your well water to find out what is actually in it, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars and will tell you exactly what needs treatment. Testing is the only way to know whether your well needs a water filter, a softener, or another solution for your family's water.