Iron and manganese are the contaminants present in Irwin County's groundwater that well owners should be aware of. Both exceed EPA health standards in this county's water supply.
Iron and manganese occur naturally in the sandy and loose rock layers that make up the surficial aquifer system beneath Irwin County. As water moves through these materials, it dissolves these metals from the rock itself, bringing them into your well. This is a natural process driven by the county's geology rather than pollution from human activity.
Groundwater in Irwin County is soft with low levels of iron, manganese, and other minerals overall. The sandy aquifer here does not naturally contain high concentrations of hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium. These characteristics are typical across wells in the county, though individual wells can vary in their specific water quality.
Wells in Irwin County commonly contain iron and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron can cause serious health problems with your blood and organs over time. Manganese also poses health risks, particularly affecting the brain and nervous system, and can be especially concerning for children and pregnant women. Arsenic is another contaminant found in county groundwater that requires attention because of its link to serious health conditions with long-term exposure.
The good news is that the mineral content in Irwin County wells is generally low and soft, so you probably won't see the staining, scale, or taste problems that come with very hard water. Your appliances should not experience the accelerated wear that plagues areas with extremely hard water.
We recommend having your well tested with a comprehensive panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your specific well so you can treat it properly. A full metals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Iron and manganese can be removed using oxidation and filtration systems or ion exchange treatment.
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 | 13 | 15% | Low | High | |
| Manganese | 13 | 15% | Low | High | |
| Chloride | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 19 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 25 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 19 | — | 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 →Loading recent water news…