Groundwater in Lowndes County contains arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, and PFOA and PFOS, which are human-made chemicals used in industrial processes. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards at levels that warrant your attention.
These contaminants arrive through different paths. Arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese dissolve naturally from the rock and soil in the shallow surficial aquifer that supplies wells here. PFOA and PFOS are synthetic chemicals that have entered groundwater through industrial or commercial activity, likely from spills or improper disposal that worked down through the sandy, permeable upper layers of earth.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven by calcium and magnesium that dissolve from the rock below. The surficial aquifer's loose composition allows rainwater to move through easily, picking up these minerals as it flows downward. Moderate hardness appears across most wells in the county.
Wells in Lowndes County contain arsenic, fluoride, and PFOA and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic exposure over time increases the risk of cancer and can harm your heart and kidneys. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage tooth enamel and bones. PFOA and PFOS are forever chemicals that build up in your body and have been linked to health problems including liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune system effects.
County wells have moderately hard water. You may notice scale buildup inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of these appliances. Soap and detergent work less well in hard water, so you may need more of them to get clean.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which costs between $200 and $400. Every well in this county is different, and your well could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. Iron filters, softeners, or reverse osmosis systems can address different concerns depending on what testing reveals.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 25% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 78 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 248 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| Iron | 278 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 294 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 236 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Chloride | 256 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 256 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 124 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 14 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 240 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 20 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 297 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 227 | — | High | 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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