Groundwater in Bastrop County contains iron, manganese, chloride, lead, nitrate, and sulfate. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making water testing and treatment important for your household.
The rock layers below Bastrop County naturally contain iron and manganese that dissolve into groundwater as water moves through the soil. Chloride and sulfate come both from the rock itself and from human activities like road salt, septic systems, and fertilizer runoff. Nitrate enters primarily from agricultural and septic sources in the area.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rocks, and it carries elevated sodium and sulfate as well. These minerals concentrate in the water because water trickling down through the rock picks them up over time. Most wells across Bastrop County show these same hard-water characteristics and elevated mineral content.
Wells in Bastrop County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate. Lead exposure harms children's brain development and learning. Manganese at high levels affects the nervous system and thinking ability. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Iron and chloride at elevated levels also pose health concerns when consumed over time.
County well water is extremely hard, which causes white scale buildup inside pipes and water heaters. Orange or brown staining appears on fixtures and laundry from the iron. The water may taste salty from sodium and chloride. Sulfate can create an unpleasant odor. Very hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances by years.
We recommend testing your well water through a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which typically costs $200 to $400. Every well is different--yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. Treatment options include water softeners for hardness and iron filters or reverse osmosis systems depending on what you find.
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 | 561 | 48% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 248 | 30% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 220 | 17% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 226 | 12% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 214 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Lead | 124 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 144 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 530 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 194 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 186 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 39 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 224 | — | 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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