Well Water Nerd

Well water in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

In Avoyelles Parish, manganese was detected in 100% of 32 tested well samples from Louisiana LDEQ ambient ground water results (LDH Private Well Initiative) and USGS Water Quality Portal.

32 individual samples from 13 wells, 1959 to 2020. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.

These are LDEQ monitoring wells sampled by aquifer on a rotation, so the shares describe the aquifer, not a survey of homeowners' wells.

What individual samples found

Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Avoyelles Parish. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.

ContaminantSamplesDetectedAbove limitMedianHighestLimit
Arsenic
1976 to 2019
1369%46%21,00810 ug/L
EPA limit
Lead
1976 to 2019
1369%38%089215 ug/L
EPA limit
Manganese
1959 to 2020
32100%no limit107515,200300 ug/L
health guideline
Iron
1975 to 2019
24100%no limit34,650134,000300 ug/L
nuisance level

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Fluoride (7), Uranium (6), Nitrate (5), Radium (226 + 228) (3), Copper (3), Chloride (2), Sodium (2), Radon (1).

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are arsenic (46% of 13 samples) and lead (38% of 13 samples). A well next door can differ sharply from yours because bedrock fractures, well depth and plumbing all matter, so these rates describe the area, not your tap.

Manganese, Iron, and Chloride are widespread in local groundwater. They are mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.

What to test for in Avoyelles Parish

  • Arsenic46% of 13 local samples were above the limit.
  • Lead38% of 13 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • RadonMedian local reading is 420 pCi/L.
  • CopperDetected in 100% of local samples.
  • ManganeseDetected in 100% of local samples.
  • IronDetected in 100% of local samples.

Treatment that fits the local profile

Arsenic
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
Lead
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Certified lead-removal carbon filter; Neutralizing filter to raise pH and stop leaching
Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Copper
Neutralizing filter to raise pH; Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Manganese
Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis

Get your Avoyelles Parish water tested at home

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Common questions

Is there arsenic in well water in Avoyelles Parish?

Arsenic was detected in 69% of 13 public well samples in Avoyelles Parish, and 46% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.

How high is radon in well water in Avoyelles Parish?

The median radon level across 1 public samples in Avoyelles Parish was 420 pCi/L, with a high of 420 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.

How often should I test a private well in Avoyelles Parish?

Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.

Sources

  • Louisiana LDEQ ambient ground water results (LDH Private Well Initiative): 59 samples in Avoyelles Parish. Ground water sample results from the LDEQ Ambient Ground Water Monitoring Program, published by the Louisiana Department of Health Private Well Initiative. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  • USGS Water Quality Portal: 52 samples in Avoyelles Parish. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.

Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.