Groundwater in Tioga County contains radon, manganese, iron, and arsenic--contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. These levels are serious enough to warrant attention and testing.
The fractured rock beneath Tioga County allows water to pick up radon from radioactive minerals as it flows through cracks. Iron and manganese dissolve into the water from the rock itself. Arsenic occurs naturally in these rock layers, and chloride enters from road salt applied during winter months on local roads.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the underlying rock. As water moves slowly through the fractured bedrock, it dissolves these minerals over time. Hard water is a common characteristic across wells throughout the county.
Tioga County well water contains arsenic, radon, chloride, and PFOA at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Radon is a radioactive gas released from water into your home's air, raising lung cancer risk with long-term exposure. PFOA is an industrial chemical linked to health effects including liver damage and thyroid disease. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with high blood pressure or heart disease.
Wells in this county show moderate iron and moderately hard water. Iron causes orange or rust-colored staining on sinks, fixtures, and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in your water. Hard water causes white scale buildup on pipes and fixtures and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to test for all these contaminants, since multiple analytes exceed health standards. Every well is different, and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is 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 panel typically costs $200-400 and can identify which treatment options work best for your situation.
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 | 15 | 67% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 33 | 42% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 33 | 30% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 21% | Low | High | |
| Chloride | 37 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 27 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 34 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Lead | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 34 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 3* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 3* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 35 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 14 | — | Low | Safe | |
| pH | 56 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 35 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 3* | 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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