Groundwater in Holmes County contains radon, manganese, and iron at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Chloride, sulfate, and these metals all show up at concerning concentrations in testing data.
These contaminants come straight from the rock beneath the county. The Pennsylvanian rocks here--shales and coal-bearing layers--naturally contain radioactive minerals that release radon, and they hold iron and manganese locked inside. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in these tight rock layers over many years, it dissolves these metals and gases.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock, along with moderate iron and sulfate. The slow movement of water through the shale allows these minerals to concentrate as it sits in contact with the bedrock. Hard water with elevated iron and sulfate is common across wells in this county.
Wells in Holmes County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, radon, and sulfate. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters water from rock and soil and can increase lung cancer risk when released into the air during household water use. Iron and manganese are metals that dissolve naturally from bedrock and can affect the nervous system at high levels over time. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels can pose health concerns with long-term exposure, though the primary risk from these elements comes through their accumulation in the body over years.
The mineral content in county wells makes daily life harder. Water this hard leaves thick white crusty scale on fixtures, inside pipes, and on appliances. Iron causes orange and reddish-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Extremely hard water like this can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. High sulfate levels can give water an unpleasant taste or odor.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, as 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. Water softeners combined with iron filters or aeration can address many of these issues.
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 | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 75 | 53% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 84 | 31% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 16 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 86 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 70 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 56 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 72 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 18 | 0% | Moderate | 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 ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 86 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 56 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 61 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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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