Groundwater in McDowell County contains arsenic, chloride, and fluoride. Contaminant levels here are low and do not exceed EPA health standards.
Arsenic and fluoride occur naturally in the crystalline rock that underlies this county. Chloride can seep in from road salt and natural rock dissolution. The crystalline bedrock here slowly releases these minerals into water as it percolates downward, but the amounts remain small.
Groundwater in this county is soft, with low levels of calcium and magnesium. The hard crystalline rock that supplies water here does not contribute heavy minerals the way softer limestone or shale rocks do. This soft water character is consistent across most wells in McDowell County.
County well water here does not contain contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. However, wells in McDowell County sometimes have arsenic, chloride, and fluoride present at levels below health limits. Arsenic can damage kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Chloride and fluoride at low levels are not health concerns, but testing will tell you what is actually in your well.
Wells in this county tend to be soft, which is good news for your household. Soft water means you probably will not see orange or brown staining from iron, crusty scale buildup on faucets, or the metallic taste that comes with high mineral content. Your appliances like water heaters and dishwashers should last a long time because soft water does not wear them out the way hard water does.
Since every well is different, yours could have higher or lower levels of these contaminants than what is common in the county. We recommend testing your well to know exactly what you are drinking. A basic screening for bacteria and nitrate costs between fifty and one hundred dollars. If you want to check for arsenic and other metals, a comprehensive panel runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Simple filters or reverse osmosis systems can remove arsenic if testing shows you need treatment.
| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Iron | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 7 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | 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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