Groundwater in Beaver County contains radon, manganese, lead, chloride, sulfate, iron, arsenic, and PFOA and PFOS. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making this a serious concern for well owners.
These contaminants come from the layered rock formation beneath the county. The Pennsylvanian-age shale and sandstone naturally contain manganese and iron that dissolve into groundwater as water moves slowly through cracks. Radon seeps in from natural radioactive decay in the rock. Lead, chloride, and sulfate dissolve from the rock itself, and past coal mining has fractured these layers, allowing more water contact with contaminated zones.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high calcium and magnesium from the shale and sandstone below. Iron at elevated levels adds to the hardness and mineral load. These characteristics are common across wells throughout Beaver County.
Beaver County wells commonly contain lead, PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS--industrial chemicals that accumulate in your body over time. Radon is also present at levels that increase lung cancer risk with long-term exposure. Arsenic, chloride, sulfate, manganese, and iron all exceed EPA health standards. Lead harms children's brain development and kidney function. Manganese can damage the nervous system. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters the water naturally.
Wells in this county have extremely hard water, which can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown. The water tastes salty from high sodium and bitter from elevated sulfate. You will see white crusty scale buildup on pipes and fixtures. Some wells have a rotten-egg smell from sulfate.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. 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 water so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400. Water softeners paired with iron removal systems and treatment for specific contaminants can help.
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 ⓘ | |
| Iron | 49 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 32 | 41% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 10 | 30% | Low | High | |
| Chloride | 61 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 60 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 175 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 175 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 44 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 141 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrate | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 44 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 38 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 54 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 141 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 60 | — | 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.
Loading recent water news…