Groundwater in Craven County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, chloride, fluoride, and lead. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
The sand and clay layers beneath the county naturally contain iron and manganese, which dissolve into groundwater over time. Arsenic occurs naturally in these coastal plain sediments. Chloride and fluoride enter from both natural mineral deposits and human sources, including saltwater intrusion from the nearby coast and past land use.
Groundwater in Craven County is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock layers below, along with very high iron. The sand and clay aquifer dissolves these minerals as water moves through it. Hard water with elevated iron is widespread across wells in this county.
Wells in Craven County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, and manganese at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms brain development in children and can affect the nervous system in adults. Fluoride at high levels can damage bone health. Chloride, iron, and manganese each pose their own health concerns with long-term exposure.
Hard water in county wells leaves stubborn orange and brown stains on fixtures, clothes, and surfaces that are difficult to remove. You may notice a metallic or unpleasant taste in your water. The mineral buildup can reduce water flow from faucets and shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Scale accumulation inside pipes and appliances is common in this county.
We recommend testing your well water. Your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county, so testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water. Since multiple analytes exceed EPA standards, a comprehensive metals and minerals panel is recommended and typically costs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like water softeners, iron filters, or reverse osmosis systems can address these concerns based on your specific results.
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 | 321 | 78% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 103 | 53% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 58 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 60 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 347 | 5% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 133 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 131 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 141 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 87 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 2* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 110 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 188 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 17 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 342 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 2* | 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.
Loading recent water news…