Well Water in Chowan County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Chowan County contains iron, chloride, and arsenic. Iron and chloride are elevated enough to exceed health standards, so well owners should test their water and know these contaminants are present in the area.

These contaminants come from the rock and soil layers beneath the county. Iron and manganese occur naturally in the coastal plain rocks here. Chloride seeps in from saltwater that moves inland underground in this low-lying area near the coast, especially where the water table is shallow.

Groundwater in Chowan County is soft but notably high in iron and sodium. Iron concentrates in the coastal plain sediments, and sodium enters from the salty influence of nearby waters and natural mineral deposits in the ground. Both iron and elevated sodium are common across wells throughout the county.

Wells in Chowan County show elevated chloride and iron at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Chloride at high levels can raise blood pressure in some people and cause other health concerns, especially for infants and people with heart or kidney problems. Iron itself does not pose a direct health risk, but the presence of high iron can indicate that other harmful contaminants may also be entering your well.

Wells in this county contain noticeable amounts of iron and sodium that affect water quality and your home. Iron causes orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. High sodium can affect the taste of your water and is a concern for people on restricted diets. The good news is that your county's water is soft, so you won't face the scale buildup and appliance damage that hard water creates.

We recommend testing your well to find out exactly what is in your water. Every well is different, and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive panel that checks for metals and minerals will run between two hundred and four hundred dollars and is the only way to know what treatment your well needs. Iron removal systems and chloride reduction through reverse osmosis are two options that can help.