Groundwater in Lackawanna County contains radon, manganese, and iron as the main contaminants well owners should know about. Seven analytes exceed EPA health standards here, including radon, iron, manganese, chloride, sulfate, and PFOA and PFOS, which represents a serious situation requiring testing and potential treatment.
These contaminants come from the rock beneath the county. Radon forms naturally inside the fractured rock and dissolves into groundwater as water moves through cracks. Iron and manganese dissolve from minerals in the bedrock. Chloride and sulfate also occur naturally in these rocks, and road salt from winter de-icing on local roads washes down and enters groundwater through the fractured stone.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven by moderate iron levels and elevated calcium and magnesium from the bedrock minerals. Iron dissolves directly from the rock as groundwater flows through cracks and fractures in the stone beneath the county. These characteristics are common across wells here, though the specific levels vary from well to well.
Wells in this county commonly contain chloride, iron, manganese, PFOA, PFOS, radon, and sulfate at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk over time. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to kidney and liver damage. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels can harm people with certain health conditions. Manganese can affect brain development in children and harm the nervous system in adults.
County well water tends to be moderately hard, which means you may notice white scale buildup on pipes and fixtures. Iron in the water can cause rust-colored staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You might notice a metallic or slightly salty taste. Over time, hard water and mineral buildup can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel because 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 $200-400. Treatment options like aeration systems and activated carbon filters can help remove radon and other contaminants.
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 | 3 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 68 | 54% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 88 | 35% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 212 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 212 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 69 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 79 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Fluoride | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 176 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Lead | 31 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 63 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Uranium | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 3* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 50 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 92 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 176 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 90 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 3* | 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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