Groundwater in Pickaway County contains iron, manganese, lead, fluoride, and nitrate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These metals come from the rock layers beneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally as groundwater moves slowly through cracks in the bedrock. Lead can enter from older well components. Nitrate and fluoride come partly from natural sources in the rock and partly from land use above.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and other carbonate rock below. As water sits in contact with these rock layers over time, it dissolves minerals that build hardness. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, and nitrate all exceed EPA health standards in wells throughout Pickaway County. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage developing teeth and bones in children. Lead is especially harmful to children's brains and nervous systems, affecting learning and behavior. Manganese can harm brain development and function over time. Iron and nitrate themselves pose health risks with long-term exposure. These metals accumulate in your body and cause damage that you cannot see or taste.
Wells in this county are extremely hard, and the very high iron content creates visible problems in your home. You will see orange-brown or rust-colored staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Hard water this severe leaves thick white crusty buildup on pipes and fixtures, and it shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Your appliances will fail faster than normal. You may also notice a metallic taste in the water.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well is different, and your well 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 to $400. Water softeners combined with iron removal systems can address many of 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 | 105 | 70% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 104 | 45% | High | High | |
| Lead | 97 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrate | 64 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 101 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 78 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 1499 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 69 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 11 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 72 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1313 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 84 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 10 | — | Low | Safe | |
| pH | 841 | — | 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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