Well water in Bienville Parish, Louisiana
In Bienville Parish, 3% of 32 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for lead (15 ug/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal and Louisiana LDEQ ambient ground water results (LDH Private Well Initiative).
34 individual samples from 33 wells, 1941 to 2018. 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 Bienville 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.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 1977 to 2014 | 23 | 96% | 13% | 0.2 | 120 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1977 to 2015 | 32 | 88% | 3% | 0 | 28 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1977 to 2015 | 34 | 38% | 0% | 0 | 0.6 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1977 to 2015 | 33 | 67% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Manganese 1978 to 2018 | 11 | 100% | no limit | 127 | 599 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Fluoride (3), Copper (3), Nitrate (2), Iron (9), Radon (8), Sodium (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (13% of 23 samples) and lead (3% of 32 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 and Iron 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 Bienville Parish
- Radium (226 + 228)13% of 23 local samples were above the limit.
- Lead3% of 32 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 82.5 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
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- 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 Bienville Parish water tested at home
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Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Bienville Parish?
Arsenic was detected in 67% of 33 public well samples in Bienville Parish, and 0% 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 Bienville Parish?
The median radon level across 8 public samples in Bienville Parish was 82.5 pCi/L, with a high of 490 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Bienville 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
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 141 samples in Bienville 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.
- Louisiana LDEQ ambient ground water results (LDH Private Well Initiative): 18 samples in Bienville 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.
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.