Groundwater in San Saba County contains iron, nitrate, and fluoride that well owners should know about. Some of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, with fluoride and nitrate being the main concerns, along with elevated iron and manganese.
These contaminants come from different sources in the local environment. Nitrate typically enters groundwater from fertilizers and septic systems in agricultural and rural areas. Fluoride occurs naturally in the bedrock and dissolves into water as it passes through. Iron and manganese also come from the local rock as water moves slowly underground.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of calcium and magnesium from the rock below, along with elevated sodium. The limestone and other carbonate-rich rocks in this region release these minerals readily into water that filters down through the soil. These hard-water characteristics are widespread across most wells in San Saba County.
Wells in San Saba County sometimes have high levels of fluoride, iron, manganese, and nitrate. Fluoride at elevated levels can cause dental fluorosis, which creates white spots or streaks on teeth, especially in children. Iron and manganese can cause digestive issues if consumed in high amounts over time. Nitrate is a concern for infants and pregnant women because it can interfere with how the body carries oxygen.
County well water is very hard, which means minerals build up inside pipes and appliances. You might see reddish or brownish staining from iron in sinks and on laundry. Hard water also makes soap less effective and leaves scale on faucets and inside water heaters. Over time, very hard water can shorten the lifespan of dishwashers and water heaters because mineral deposits clog them up. The water may also have a slight taste or smell from these minerals.
We recommend testing your well water because every well is different and 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 well so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel usually costs between $200 and $400 and will tell you exactly what you are dealing with. Depending on your results, water softeners or filters that remove iron and manganese can help.
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 | 200 | 12% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 52 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 345 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 158 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 148 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 122 | 0% | High | 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 ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 38 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | 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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