Iron, chloride, manganese, fluoride, and lead are present in Panola County groundwater that well owners should be aware of. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a concern for your household water.
The Mississippi embayment aquifer system beneath Panola County contains naturally occurring iron and manganese in its rock layers. Saltwater intrusion and mineral dissolution from these deep rock formations release chloride and fluoride into the groundwater. Lead enters through corroded service lines and old plumbing in homes and buildings throughout the county.
Groundwater in this county is soft with elevated sodium and moderate iron as its defining characteristics. The soft nature comes from low calcium and magnesium in the embayment rock, while sodium accumulates from natural mineral deposits and saltwater influence in the deep aquifer layers. High sodium levels and moderate iron appear across many wells in the county.
Chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, and manganese show up at unsafe levels in wells across Panola County. Lead damages children's developing brains and kidneys and harms adults' blood pressure and kidney function. Fluoride at high levels can cause dental problems and skeletal damage. Chloride at elevated concentrations increases health risks for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Iron and manganese together can affect how your body absorbs and uses other nutrients.
Water in this county is soft, so you won't see heavy scaling or crusty buildup on fixtures and pipes. The high sodium content can leave a salty taste in drinking water and may concern people on sodium-restricted diets. Iron can stain laundry, sinks, and toilets with reddish or brown marks, and it may create a metallic taste.
Every well in Panola County is different, and yours may have higher or lower levels of these contaminants than what's common here. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel will tell you exactly what you're dealing with so you can treat it properly. We recommend testing right away--a full panel costs between $200 and $400. Ion exchange filters or reverse osmosis systems can remove lead, chloride, and excess sodium from your water.
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 | 146 | 26% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 10 | 20% | Low | High | |
| Manganese | 97 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 62 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 227 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 63 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Uranium | 29 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 10 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 10 | — | Low | Low | |
| Sodium | 9 | — | 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.
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