Groundwater in Wayne County contains iron, lead, arsenic, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are a serious concern for well owners and warrant immediate testing.
The rock beneath Wayne County naturally holds iron and manganese that dissolve into water as it moves slowly underground. Lead and arsenic also occur naturally in these rock layers. Road salt spread on streets and highways adds chloride and sodium to groundwater as water soaks down through the soil.
Groundwater in Wayne County is very hard and high in iron, sodium, and sulfate. The local rock naturally releases these minerals into water that sits in contact with it for long periods. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Wayne County commonly contain arsenic, lead, chloride, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your skin, kidneys, and heart over time. Lead is especially dangerous for children because it harms brain development and learning. Manganese in high amounts can affect the nervous system. Chloride at elevated levels can damage your kidneys if you drink it for many years.
The very high iron in county wells will stain your sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown and leave a metallic taste. High sodium makes water taste salty and can be a problem for people watching their salt intake. The mineral content is so heavy that it will build scale inside water heaters and pipes, shortening their lifespan and making them less efficient.
We recommend testing your well water through a certified lab. 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 treated properly. Because multiple contaminants exceed health standards here, a comprehensive metals and minerals panel is recommended--this typically costs $200-400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or whole-house filters can address these concerns.
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 | 77% | Low | High | |
| Lead | 12 | 75% | Low | High | |
| Arsenic | 12 | 33% | Low | High | |
| Manganese | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 57 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Fluoride | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 183 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 183 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 183 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 183 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 183 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 49 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 48 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 183 | — | High | 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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