Manganese, iron, chloride, fluoride, lead, and PFOA and PFOS are present in Milam County groundwater and require your attention. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing your well water essential.
The rock beneath this county naturally releases iron and manganese into the water as it flows underground. Chloride and sulfate enter from the surrounding landscape and from deep rock layers. Lead and PFOS can seep in from old pipes, industrial sites, or past disposal areas.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below, and it carries moderate iron that adds to the mineral load. The combination of hard water and moderate iron is common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Milam County commonly contain chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, PFOA, and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Lead damages children's brain development and learning. Fluoride at high levels can cause dental problems and bone damage. Manganese harms the nervous system. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that build up in your body and raise cancer risk. Chloride at elevated levels can affect people with heart or kidney problems.
Hard water in this county can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice orange or brown stains from iron on clothes and fixtures, or dark stains from manganese. Scale buildup can clog pipes and reduce water flow. The water may taste salty or metallic, and you might feel dry skin after bathing.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals test to find out what is actually in your well. Testing typically costs $200 to $400 and is the only way to know if your water needs treatment. Every well is different--yours could have much higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Options like reverse osmosis or ion exchange systems can remove many of these contaminants.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 180 | 41% | High | High | |
| Iron | 230 | 37% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 8 | 12% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 8 | 12% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 5% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Lead | 73 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 372 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 73 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 31 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sodium | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 22 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 8 | — | 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.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
Loading recent water news…