Groundwater in Brooks County contains radon, chloride, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, iron, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a serious concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from both natural and human sources. The coastal lowlands here naturally contain salty groundwater with high chloride and sodium left over from ancient seawater. Nitrate and arsenic enter the water from agriculture and naturally occurring deposits in the rocks. Radon comes from radioactive minerals in the underground layers.
Groundwater in this county is hard and carries elevated sodium and sulfate along with moderate iron levels. The salty coastal geology and the slow movement of water through the aquifer allow these minerals to build up in the water. Hard water with high sodium and sulfate is common across wells throughout Brooks County.
Wells in Brooks County commonly have arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, nitrate, radon, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and radon are serious concerns--arsenic builds up in your body over time and can cause cancer and organ damage, while radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when you breathe it in. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can prevent oxygen from reaching their blood. Fluoride, chloride, and sulfate at high levels also pose health risks with long-term exposure.
Hard water in this county can leave stains on your fixtures and dishes, create stubborn scale buildup in pipes and on faucets, and shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The very high sodium content can leave a salty taste that makes water unpleasant to drink and cook with. Iron can cause reddish or brown staining on sinks and laundry.
We recommend a comprehensive testing panel for your well since multiple analytes exceed health standards--costs typically run $200 to $400. Every well is different, and yours could 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 you can treat it properly. Treatment options like reverse osmosis, ion exchange softeners, and radon removal systems can address these concerns once you know your specific results.
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 ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 103 | 37% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 115 | 29% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 101 | 18% | High | High | |
| Iron | 66 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 50 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 292 | 2% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 49 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Manganese | 52 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 100 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 95 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 9 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 100 | — | 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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