Groundwater in Wayne County contains radon, arsenic, and sulfate that well owners should know about. Arsenic and radon exceed EPA health standards, making them the top concerns in this area.
Radon forms naturally from radioactive material in the rock beneath the county. Arsenic occurs naturally in the same bedrock. Sulfate dissolves into groundwater as water moves through the rock layers underground. These contaminants come from the geology itself rather than from pollution or human activity.
Groundwater in Wayne County is soft, with low iron and low mineral content overall. The rock composition here keeps mineral levels low, which means you will not see the heavy white scale buildup or reddish staining that affects some neighboring areas. These soft-water characteristics are common across wells in the county.
Wells in Wayne County commonly contain arsenic, PFOA, PFOS, radon, and sulfate at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to health problems including liver damage and immune system effects. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when breathed in over years. Sulfate at elevated levels can cause digestive problems.
The good news is that Wayne County wells are soft with low iron, sodium, and mineral content overall. You should not see heavy white scale buildup on pipes or fixtures. The water should not taste salty or have staining problems from minerals. Your appliances should not experience shortened lifespans from hard water damage.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and radon 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 two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like activated carbon filters and radon 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 42 | 86% | 12% · 2% · 86% | Moderate | High ⓘ |
| Arsenic | 61 | 8% | 82% · 10% · 8% | Moderate | Moderate |
| Sulfate | 55 | 6% | 93% · 2% · 6% | Moderate | Moderate |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 270 | 4% | 86% · 10% · 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 270 | 3% | 88% · 9% · 3% | High | Low |
| Lead | 58 | 0% | 97% · 3% · 0% | Moderate | Low |
| Uranium | 69 | 0% | 99% · 1% · 0% | Moderate | Low |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 247 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | High | Safe |
| Chloride | 24 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Moderate | Low |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Moderate | Safe |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Moderate | Safe |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Low ⓘ |
| Fluoride | 4 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Low ⓘ |
| Manganese | 2 | 0% | 50% · 50% · 0% | Low | Low ⓘ |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
| Sodium | 74 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 247 | — | 100% · 0% · 0% | High | Low |
| pH | 12 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
| Hardness | 24 | — | — | Moderate | 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.
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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