Groundwater in Pitt County contains pfos, iron, and lead at levels exceeding EPA health standards, along with chloride, manganese, and radon. These contamination levels are serious enough to require attention from well owners.
Pfos and lead enter groundwater through human activities--industrial discharge, firefighting foam at airports and military sites, and old plumbing materials leach lead into water as it travels underground. Iron, chloride, and manganese occur naturally in the sandy and clay layers of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system that lies beneath the county. As water moves slowly through these rock layers, it dissolves minerals and picks up salts that have accumulated over time in this low-lying coastal area.
Groundwater in this county is soft, with moderate iron content being the primary aesthetic characteristic. Iron dissolves naturally from the sand and clay layers as water percolates downward, and sodium levels are also moderate from the same geological sources. Most wells in Pitt County show at least some iron presence, though the amount varies from well to well.
Wells in Pitt County are showing concerning levels of chloride, iron, lead, manganese, and radioactive radon. Chloride and lead both pose serious health risks, especially to children and people with heart or kidney problems. Lead damages the brain and nervous system. Manganese can affect the brain and nervous system too. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when inhaled over time. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to health problems including liver damage and weakened immunity.
Wells in this county tend to have moderate iron levels that can cause staining on fixtures and laundry. You may notice rust-colored water or a metallic taste. Iron can clog pipes and reduce water pressure over time. The water here is relatively soft, so you won't see heavy white scale buildup like in harder water areas.
We recommend a comprehensive testing panel because several analytes exceed health standards in county wells. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what's 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 metals and chemicals panel typically costs $200-400. Iron removal systems and activated carbon filters can address multiple concerns once you know 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 76 | 34% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 171 | 31% | High | High | |
| Lead | 12 | 25% | Low | High | |
| Manganese | 133 | 23% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 76 | 22% | Moderate | High | |
| Radon | 5 | 20% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 182 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 12 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Fluoride | 128 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 77 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 115 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 77 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 77 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 171 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 12 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| E. coli | 2* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 171 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 76 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 190 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 144 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 2* | 0% | 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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