Groundwater in San Augustine County contains manganese, iron, and lead at levels that exceed EPA health standards and require your attention. These contaminants are present at concentrations serious enough that well owners in this area need to test their water and consider treatment options.
Iron and manganese come from the local rock layers beneath the county. As water moves slowly through these rocks over time, it dissolves these metals and carries them into wells. Lead can enter from old pipes and materials in your well system itself.
San Augustine County's water is soft with high sodium, shaped by the minerals in the rocks below. The iron present shows up at moderate levels across the area. Most wells in the county show these same mineral features.
Wells in San Augustine County commonly exceed EPA health standards for iron, lead, and manganese. Lead damages children's brain development and learning abilities even at low levels. Iron and manganese can harm the nervous system with prolonged exposure. All three metals pose serious health risks that warrant testing and treatment.
County well water tends to be soft, which is good for reducing scale buildup. However, the elevated iron creates rust-colored staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. High sodium levels can affect the taste of your water. These aesthetic problems are bothersome but separate from the health concerns above.
We recommend getting your well tested with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which typically costs between $200 and $400. Your well may have higher or lower contamination than what is common in the county--testing is the only way to know what you are actually dealing with so proper treatment can be applied. Iron removal systems and lead filtration are among the treatment options available depending on your results.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 37 | 30% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 88 | 27% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 32 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Chloride | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Fluoride | 108 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Uranium | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 11 | — | Low | Low | |
| pH | 11 | — | Low | Low | |
| Sodium | 11 | — | Low | 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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