Chloride, fluoride, and hardness are present in Jeff Davis County groundwater. The good news is that contaminant levels here are low and do not exceed EPA health standards.
These minerals enter the water naturally from the sandy and clayey layers that make up the surficial aquifer system beneath the county. The shallow groundwater moves slowly through these sediments, which contain small amounts of salt and minerals but not enough to create serious problems. The same aquifer conditions found in neighboring counties keep contamination low across this whole region.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven mainly by calcium and magnesium minerals that dissolve from the soil and sediment as water filters down. These minerals are common in the sandy layers that supply most wells here. Moderate hardness is widespread across wells in the county.
Good news: wells in Jeff Davis County do not show contaminants exceeding EPA health standards at the county level. Your well water is meeting federal health benchmarks based on what we know about the area.
Wells in this county do contain moderate amounts of iron and minerals that create quality-of-life concerns. Iron can leave reddish or brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry. The moderately hard water in the area can build up scale inside pipes and appliances, shortening the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers over time.
We recommend testing your well to find out what is actually in your water right now. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels of iron and hardness than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know if treatment is needed for your family. A basic test runs fifty to one hundred dollars, and water softening or iron filters can address these mineral concerns.
| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Iron | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Iron | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 5 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 5 | — | 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.
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