Groundwater in Yuba County contains manganese, iron, arsenic, lead, nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and human-made chemicals called PFOA and PFOS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a real concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources. Arsenic, manganese, and iron occur naturally in the rock and soil layers that make up the Central Valley aquifer system. Nitrate and chloride enter groundwater from agricultural activities and septic systems. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that have leaked into the water supply through contamination at specific sites.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven mainly by minerals dissolved from the surrounding rock. This moderate hardness, along with moderate iron levels, reflects the mineral-rich nature of the Central Valley aquifer system. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Yuba County contain several contaminants at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic, lead, and PFOA and PFOS chemicals can damage organs and increase cancer risk with long-term exposure. Nitrate harms infants and young children by affecting how blood carries oxygen. Manganese at high levels can affect the brain and nervous system, especially in children.
County well water tends to be moderately hard, which causes white scale buildup on faucets and inside pipes. Iron in the water leaves orange or brown stains on fixtures, laundry, and dishes. Hard water also shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice a metallic taste in your water.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive panel to see what is actually in your water, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. A comprehensive metals and minerals test costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Testing is the only way to know what you need to treat, whether that is installing a water softener for hardness or using activated carbon or reverse osmosis filters for chemical removal.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 191 | 31% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 61 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 203 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 182 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 61 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 355 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 131 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 283 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 299 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Boron | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chromium (total) | 134 | 0% | High | Low | |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane | 134 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Fluoride | 225 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 60 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 152 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 61 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Perchlorate | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 61 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Tds | 134 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 11* | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Hardness | 355 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 354 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 11* | 0% | Low | Low | |
| pH | 364 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 61 | — | 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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