Groundwater in Cumberland County contains iron, manganese, radon, lead, nitrate, PFOA, and PFOS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant testing and treatment.
These contaminants come from the limestone and carbonate rock beneath the county. Radon forms naturally inside the rock from radioactive elements. Iron and manganese dissolve from the minerals in the stone as water moves through it. Lead enters older wells through corroded pipes. Nitrate, PFOA, and PFOS come from land activities including fertilizer use and past industrial or military sites.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone below. The carbonate rock dissolves easily, allowing these minerals to concentrate in the water as it flows underground. Very hard water with moderate iron levels shows up across most wells tested in Cumberland County.
Wells in Cumberland County commonly exceed EPA health standards for iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, PFOA, PFOS, and radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk with long-term exposure through inhalation from water use. Lead damages children's brains and kidneys and harms adult kidney and heart function. Manganese can affect brain development in children. Nitrate interferes with how blood carries oxygen, especially in infants. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to serious health effects including immune system and liver damage.
Your county's wells show extremely hard water, which builds thick white crusty scale inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers--this can shorten appliance lifespan significantly. Moderate iron levels cause orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry that is stubborn and hard to remove. You may notice a metallic or unpleasant taste in your water from these minerals.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and radon panel because multiple contaminants exceed standards and every well is different--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 $200-400. Treatment options like aeration systems paired with activated carbon filters can address multiple 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 | 146 | 36% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 137 | 28% | High | High | |
| Radon | 49 | 22% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 239 | 19% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 238 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 348 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 58 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 149 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 142 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 189 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 311 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 60 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 60 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 148 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 424 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 189 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 149 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 151 | — | 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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