Well Water in Houston County: What to Test and Why

Well owners in Houston County should know that iron, PFHXS, and PFOA are present in groundwater here and exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are at levels serious enough that testing and potential treatment deserve attention.

Iron enters groundwater naturally as water moves through sandy layers in the Coastal Plain aquifer system, where low-oxygen conditions dissolve iron from the rock. PFHXS and PFOA are human-made chemicals that reach groundwater through industrial and land-use activities, including manufacturing, firefighting foam at airports or military sites, and contaminated sites. The Coastal Plain's sandy and permeable layers allow these chemicals to move downward more easily than in harder rock areas to the north.

Groundwater in Houston County is soft and carries low levels of iron and other minerals from the sandy aquifer material. The sandy geology here does not naturally concentrate hard minerals like calcium and magnesium the way limestone areas do. Most wells in the county show soft water, though iron presence varies from well to well.

Wells in Houston County can contain iron, PFHXS, and PFOA at levels above EPA health standards. Iron is a metal that builds up in your body over time and can affect your organs and blood. PFHXS and PFOA are human-made chemicals that don't break down in the environment or in your body. Exposure to these chemicals over many years has been linked to health problems including liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune system effects.

The good news is that Houston County wells are generally soft with low mineral content overall. You probably won't see the staining, scale buildup, or taste and odor problems that come with hard water. Your appliances should not experience shortened lifespans from mineral damage.

We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to see what is actually in your water. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common across the county. Testing is the only way to know what you're drinking so you can treat it properly if needed. A comprehensive panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Depending on results, treatment options like iron filters or activated carbon can remove these contaminants.