Guilford County's groundwater contains PFOS, PFOA, PFHXS, iron, manganese, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concentrations high enough to be a concern for your drinking water.
PFOS and PFOA are human-made chemicals used in industrial processes and firefighting foam, often released at airports and military sites. Iron and manganese come from the crystalline rock beneath the county, where water dissolves these metals as it moves through cracks and fractures underground. Sulfate also leaches from the rock itself.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven by calcium and magnesium released from the crystalline rock as water percolates downward. The rock type here naturally produces this level of hardness. Moderate hardness is common across wells throughout the county.
Guilford County wells commonly contain iron, manganese, and PFAS chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS) at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron and manganese can build up in your body over time and affect your nervous system and organ function. PFAS chemicals are human-made substances that accumulate in your body and have been linked to serious health effects including liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune system problems.
County wells show moderate hardness, which means you may notice scale buildup on faucets and shower heads, spots on dishes after washing, or reduced effectiveness of soap and shampoo. The water itself should taste and smell normal, and mineral staining is usually limited. Moderately hard water can reduce the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers over time.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel since multiple analytes exceed health standards. 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 to $400. Treatment options depend on what testing reveals and may include activated carbon filters for PFAS or iron removal systems.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 36 | 72% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 36 | 28% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 36 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 33 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 34 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 33 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 34 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 72 | 0% | Moderate | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 33 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 203 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 36 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 34 | — | Moderate | 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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