Vance County groundwater contains iron, chloride, and PFOS that well owners should know about. Iron and PFOS exceed EPA health standards, making them the most concerning contaminants in your county.
Iron dissolves naturally from the crystalline rock beneath Vance County as water moves through cracks and breaks in the stone. PFOS is a human-made chemical that enters groundwater from industrial sources and contaminated sites on the land surface. Chloride also seeps in from road salt and septic systems, though at lower levels than iron and PFOS.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by calcium and magnesium released from the crystalline rock as water passes through it over time. The rock minerals that make the water hard are widespread beneath the county, so elevated hardness shows up in wells across the region.
Wells in Vance County contain iron and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron in drinking water can cause problems with your blood and organs over time. PFOS is a human-made chemical that can affect your immune system, liver, and thyroid function.
The hard water common in county wells will leave rust stains on your sinks, bathtubs, and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in your water. The hardness can build up scale inside your pipes and water heater, shortening the lifespan of appliances like dishwashers and water heaters.
We recommend a comprehensive water testing panel to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to know what needs treatment. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like iron filters or reverse osmosis systems can help remove these contaminants from your water.
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 | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 4 | — | 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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