Groundwater in Wilson County contains iron, manganese, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and deserve your attention.
The Texas coastal uplands rock layers here naturally release iron and manganese as water moves through them over time. Chloride and sulfate seep upward from deeper, saltier rock zones. Nitrate enters from agricultural fertilizer and septic systems on the land surface above.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, with elevated iron as the most noticeable mineral character. The rock beneath releases these metals as water passes through, and this pattern is common across wells throughout Wilson County.
Wells in Wilson County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with certain heart and kidney conditions. Nitrate poses particular risk to infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Iron and manganese can affect your nervous system and organs when consumed at high levels over time.
The moderately hard water in this county creates noticeable quality-of-life problems. Iron leaves rust-colored stains on laundry, fixtures, and surfaces that are difficult to remove. You may notice a metallic taste or reddish tint to your water. Hard water also causes scale buildup in pipes and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend getting a comprehensive water test right away since several analytes exceed health standards in county wells. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels 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 metals and minerals panel typically costs between $200 and $400 and can identify treatment options like iron filters or reverse osmosis systems.
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 | 309 | 49% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 260 | 32% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 58 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 42 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 58 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 182 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 470 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 181 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 100 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 58 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 22 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 58 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 58 | — | 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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