Brown County groundwater contains radon, iron, sulfate, arsenic, and lead. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the rock layers beneath Brown County. Radon occurs naturally in the bedrock and seeps into groundwater over time. Iron, sulfate, arsenic, and lead dissolve from the surrounding rock as water moves slowly through it underground. The other rock types in this county are prone to releasing these elements into the water supply.
Groundwater in Brown County is very hard, driven by elevated iron and sulfate concentrations along with high mineral content overall. The rock beneath this area naturally contains and releases these minerals as water passes through it. These characteristics are widespread across Brown County wells.
Wells in Brown County commonly contain arsenic, lead, radon, iron, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic exposure can damage organs and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms brain development in children and can affect kidney and nervous system function in adults. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk. High sulfate levels can cause digestive problems, especially in infants and people with certain health conditions.
The very hard water in county wells creates real daily challenges. Iron staining turns fixtures, laundry, and dishes orange or brown. Hard water builds up scale inside pipes and water heaters, shortening their lifespan. You may notice a rotten egg smell from sulfate, and the water can taste bitter or unpleasant.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive panel that covers metals, minerals, bacteria, and radon. Every well is different, and your water could have much higher or lower levels than what is common across the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, and radon removal 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 111 | 90% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 99 | 88% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 101 | 32% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 112 | 29% | High | High | |
| Lead | 101 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 121 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 111 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 14 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrite | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 111 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 5 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 2 | — | 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.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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