Groundwater in Washington County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, chloride, fluoride, lead, nitrate, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, which is a concern that warrants testing your well.
These contaminants come from the Pennsylvanian rock layers beneath the county--shale and sandstone that naturally contain iron, manganese, and arsenic. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in these rocks, it dissolves these minerals. Past coal mining in the region has fractured the bedrock further, allowing water to move through and pick up more dissolved material. Road salt from highways and naturally occurring mineral deposits also contribute chloride and sulfate to the groundwater.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and shale layers below. Iron and manganese are present at moderate to notable levels, and sulfate adds to the mineral load in the water. These hard-water and mineral characteristics are widespread across wells throughout Washington County.
Wells in Washington County contain arsenic, lead, fluoride, nitrate, and chloride at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and increases cancer risk. Lead damages children's brains and kidneys even at low doses. Fluoride at high levels can harm bone and tooth development. Nitrate threatens infants and vulnerable people by reducing blood oxygen. Chloride at elevated levels can affect people managing heart disease or high blood pressure.
County well water is very hard, which means white crusty scale builds up inside pipes and water heaters. Iron causes orange-brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry. The high sulfate and chloride can give water a bitter or salty taste. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of appliances like water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple analytes 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 water softeners combined with reverse osmosis filters or aeration systems can address 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 | 103 | 41% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 92 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 14 | 21% | Low | High | |
| Sulfate | 102 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 14 | 7% | Low | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 17 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 102 | 5% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 90 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 102 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 13 | — | Low | Safe | |
| pH | 94 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 101 | — | 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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