Groundwater in Benzie County contains iron, arsenic, and chloride that well owners should be aware of. Iron exceeds EPA health standards in this area, while arsenic and chloride are present at levels below concern thresholds.
Iron dissolves naturally from the rock layers beneath Benzie County as groundwater sits in contact with them over time. Arsenic and chloride also occur naturally in these same rock formations, though at lower concentrations than iron.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the underlying rock. The slow movement of water through these mineral-rich layers allows these hardness minerals to dissolve and concentrate in the water. Very hard water is common across wells throughout the county.
Iron exceeds EPA health standards in wells across Benzie County. Long-term exposure to elevated iron can build up in your body and affect your health over time. While iron is not considered an immediate poison, breathing in iron dust or ingesting very high levels causes concern for organ damage with repeated exposure.
Wells in this county are extremely hard, which means white, crusty scale builds up on faucets, shower heads, and inside pipes. Iron causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in your water. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
We recommend testing your well water, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower iron levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. A basic health screen runs fifty to one hundred dollars. An iron filter or water softener can remove these minerals from your water.
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 | 8 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Manganese | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOA | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOS | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 8 | — | Low | 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.
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