Groundwater in Houston County contains iron, PFHXS, and PFOA at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concentrations the EPA considers a health concern and warrant attention from well owners.
Iron comes from the sandy and clay layers that make up the local aquifer system in this region. PFHXS and PFOA are human-made chemicals that enter groundwater from industrial sites, landfills, or firefighting foam used at airports and military bases. These chemicals move through soil and reach the water below over time.
The water in this county is soft and low in minerals overall. The sandy aquifer system does not naturally dissolve large amounts of hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium, so wells here tend to have clean, soft water. Most wells in Houston County show this same soft-water pattern.
Wells in Houston County have been found with iron and PFOA and PFHXS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron at high levels can cause problems with your blood and organs over time. PFOA and PFHXS are chemicals that can build up in your body and may affect your immune system, thyroid, and liver with long-term exposure.
The good news is that wells in this county generally have very soft water with low mineral content. You probably won't see the staining, scaling, or bad tastes that come with hard water in other areas. Your appliances should not wear out faster from mineral buildup.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive panel 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. Testing is the only way to know if you need treatment. A comprehensive metals and chemicals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Iron can be removed with filtration systems, and certain treatment methods can address PFOA and PFHXS contamination.
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 | 13 | 31% | Low | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 36 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 36 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Arsenic | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Chloride | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 27 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 36 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 27 | — | Moderate | 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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