Groundwater in Coshocton County contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, and sulfate--several at levels exceeding EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are concerning enough to require your attention and testing.
The rock beneath Coshocton County is Pennsylvanian-age shale and sandstone, which naturally holds these metals and minerals. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in this rock, iron and manganese dissolve into the water. Arsenic, sulfate, and chloride leach from minerals locked in the shale layers.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and very high in iron, with moderate sulfate present. This hardness comes from calcium and magnesium released by the shale and sandstone as water sits in contact with the rock. These mineral characteristics are widespread across wells in Coshocton County.
Arsenic, lead, manganese, chloride, and fluoride exceed EPA health standards in wells across Coshocton County. Arsenic is linked to cancer and organ damage with long-term exposure. Lead is especially harmful to children's brain development and learning. Manganese can affect the nervous system and cause developmental problems in young children. Chloride and fluoride at elevated levels also pose health concerns with prolonged exposure.
County wells are extremely hard, which causes white crusty scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes. The very high iron content stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown. Hard water at these levels can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The elevated sulfate can give water a bitter or unpleasant taste, and you may notice a metallic smell.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple analytes exceed health standards in this county. Every well is different, and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so proper treatment can be put in place. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400 and can guide you toward the right treatment--options like water softeners combined with iron filters and arsenic-removal systems address these concerns.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 268 | 86% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 258 | 63% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 179 | 15% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 212 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 210 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 218 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 274 | 2% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 274 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 221 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 219 | — | High | 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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