Groundwater in St. Clair County contains iron, lead, manganese, arsenic, and chloride at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious enough to warrant testing and potential treatment.
The rocks beneath this county naturally contain iron and manganese that dissolve into groundwater over time. Lead and arsenic also occur in the rock itself. Road salt applied to winter roads seeps down through soil and adds chloride to the water supply.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with elevated calcium and magnesium alongside very high iron levels. The hardness and iron come from minerals in the underlying rock formation. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in St. Clair County contain several contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic, lead, and manganese can build up in your body over time and cause serious health problems including nervous system damage and increased cancer risk. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with high blood pressure or heart conditions. Iron also exceeds health standards in county wells and can cause organ damage with long-term exposure.
The very hard water in this county leaves white crusty deposits on faucets, shower heads, and inside pipes. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry reddish-brown. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. Hard water this extreme can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances by making them work harder.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower 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 comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400 and can identify which contaminants need addressing. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or whole-house filters can remove arsenic, lead, and other harmful substances.
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 | 24 | 88% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 16 | 69% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 13 | 31% | Low | High | |
| Arsenic | 17 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 38 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 27 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 49 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 50 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 27 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 47 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 53 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 13 | — | Low | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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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