Groundwater in Hudson County contains manganese, iron, arsenic, and human-made chemicals called PFOA and PFOS that exceed EPA health standards. Additional salts like chloride and sulfate are present at elevated levels, along with very high sodium.
These contaminants come from two sources. The underground rock itself naturally releases iron, manganese, and arsenic as water flows through it. Road salt, de-icing chemicals, and industrial activity from this densely developed urban area introduce chloride, sulfate, and the PFOA and PFOS compounds into the groundwater below.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and very high in sodium, driven by minerals dissolved from the basin rock and salt intrusion from urban sources. The Mesozoic basin rock beneath the county contains iron and manganese-bearing minerals that dissolve into water over time. These characteristics show up consistently across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Hudson County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, sulfate, manganese, iron, arsenic, and PFOS and PFOA. Arsenic damages the kidneys and increases cancer risk over time. Manganese harms brain development, especially in children. PFOS and PFOA are chemicals that build up in your body and weaken your immune system. Iron and manganese can cause digestive problems. High chloride levels affect people with heart disease or high blood pressure.
The very hard water and high mineral content in county wells causes visible problems. Brown or rust-colored staining appears on clothes, dishes, and fixtures from iron. You may see scale buildup inside pipes and on fixtures. Water heaters and dishwashers wear out faster with this level of hardness. The water tastes salty from high sodium levels.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what needs treatment. A comprehensive panel typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or water softening can address multiple contaminants at once.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 30 | 90% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 17 | 76% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 29 | 52% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 17 | 41% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 17 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 17 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Fluoride | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 30 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrate | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 30 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 17 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 19 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 30 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 17 | — | 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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