Kleberg County well water contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, sulfate, and uranium at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious enough to warrant testing and treatment consideration.
This county sits where the Gulf Coast meets inland Texas, in a region of sand, clay, and shell layers deposited over time by ancient seas. Salt and minerals concentrate naturally in this coastal groundwater, and saltwater from deeper underground or from the Gulf pushes upward into shallow wells. Iron and manganese come from minerals in the sandy and clay layers themselves. Arsenic and uranium occur naturally in these sediments and dissolve into the water as it filters through.
Kleberg County's groundwater is very hard and notably salty, with very high sodium and sulfate as the dominant minerals. These minerals accumulate because the coastal geology naturally contains salt deposits left behind by ancient oceans, and seawater intrusion adds more salt to the deeper layers. Hard water from calcium and magnesium, combined with high sodium and sulfate, shows up in wells throughout this county.
Kleberg County wells show arsenic, uranium, fluoride, and manganese at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic can cause cancer and damage to the heart, kidneys, and nervous system with long-term exposure. Uranium is radioactive and increases cancer risk. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage tooth enamel and bones. Manganese can harm the developing brain and nervous system.
County wells have very high sodium, high sulfate, and moderate iron. The water tastes salty and bitter. Iron stains laundry, dishes, and plumbing fixtures reddish-brown. Hard water leaves scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes, shortening the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice a rotten egg smell from sulfate.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals testing panel, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county. Your well is different from others, and your levels could be higher or lower than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel costs around two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can help remove arsenic and improve water quality.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | 80 | 70% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 75 | 49% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 150 | 25% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 114 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 86 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Uranium | 34 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 292 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 85 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 88 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sodium | 62 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 80 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 22 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 80 | — | Moderate | 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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