Groundwater in Putnam County contains radon, manganese, iron, chloride, and fluoride. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and need attention from well owners.
The carbonate rock beneath this county naturally releases radon, iron, and manganese into groundwater as slightly acidic water dissolves these minerals over time. Chloride and fluoride enter from road salt and natural deposits in the soil and rock. These sources are common across the region's limestone geology.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by calcium and magnesium from the carbonate rock below, along with moderate iron and sodium that add to the water's mineral load. As water moves through limestone, it picks up these dissolved minerals naturally. These characteristics appear across many wells throughout the county.
Chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, and radon all exceed EPA health standards in county wells. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases your risk of lung cancer over time through breathing. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage tooth enamel and bone health, especially in children. Chloride and manganese can harm your nervous system and affect how your body processes certain minerals. Iron and manganese in high amounts reduce oxygen in your bloodstream and damage organs over years of exposure.
Hard water is common here and will leave white scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. You may see rust-colored staining on sinks and laundry from the iron. The water can taste bitter or have a metallic flavor. Hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines because mineral deposits clog them faster.
Your well is unique and could have much higher or much lower levels than what we see across the county. Testing is how you find out what is actually in your water so you can treat it right. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which costs between $200 and $400. Depending on results, treatment options include softening systems, radon removal, or special filters.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 5 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 26 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 50 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 49 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 49 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 49 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 49 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 50 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 49 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 50 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 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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