Groundwater in Carroll County contains manganese, iron, and arsenic. Iron and manganese exceed EPA health standards, which means these metals are present at levels that need attention.
These metals come from the coal-bearing rock layers beneath the county. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in shale and coal seams, iron and manganese dissolve into the water over time.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock. The high iron content also makes the water noticeably mineral-rich. Hard water with this much iron is common across wells in Carroll County.
Wells in Carroll County pull water from old rock layers that contain iron and manganese. Both of these metals exceed EPA health standards in county wells. Iron and manganese are toxic to your body when you drink them over time. Manganese can harm your nervous system and affect how your brain works. Iron builds up in your organs and causes damage.
County wells are also very hard, with noticeable levels of iron. Hard water leaves white crusty scale on faucets and shower heads. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange and brown. The water may taste metallic. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers because scale buildup clogs them.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel. Every well is different--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 well so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel runs $200-400. Treatment options include water softeners paired with iron removal systems.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 23 | 78% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 23 | 57% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 23 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 19 | — | 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.
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