Kenedy County groundwater contains arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Several of these contaminants are present at concerning concentrations that warrant your attention.
The coastal geology here naturally holds salt and minerals from ancient seawater trapped in the rock layers. As groundwater moves through these salty layers, it picks up chloride, sulfate, and sodium. Arsenic and iron leach from the rock itself as water percolates down.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard and very high in sodium and sulfate, driven by the salt-bearing rock formations beneath the surface. The coastal lowlands contain rock and sediment saturated with minerals from the Gulf, and water dissolving through this material becomes enriched with these salts and metals. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Kenedy County show arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and can damage your organs and increase cancer risk. Iron and manganese can harm your nervous system and cause other health problems with long-term exposure. Chloride and sulfate themselves are not toxic at these levels, but they contribute to the overall mineral burden in the water.
The water here is moderately hard and very high in sodium and sulfate, which creates noticeable problems at home. You will probably taste saltiness and a bitter or metallic flavor in your drinking water and food cooked with it. Reddish or brown staining appears on sinks, toilets, and laundry from the iron. High sodium content is especially hard on appliances--water heaters, dishwashers, and pipes wear out faster than normal.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out exactly what is in your well, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know what treatment your water actually needs. Depending on your results, options like reverse osmosis filters or ion exchange systems 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 | 77 | 83% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 66 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 115 | 35% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 50 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 51 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 181 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 50 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 51 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 24 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 71 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 77 | — | 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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