Groundwater in Falls County contains iron, nitrate, manganese, arsenic, and fluoride. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and require your attention.
The rock beneath Falls County naturally releases iron and manganese into water as it moves underground. Nitrate enters from agricultural activities and septic systems in the area. Arsenic and fluoride dissolve from the local rock layers into the groundwater as water passes through.
Water in Falls County carries moderate amounts of iron, making it noticeably affected by this mineral. Iron comes from the breakdown of iron-bearing minerals in the county's underground rock. These characteristics show up in wells across the county, though the exact levels vary from well to well.
Wells in Falls County commonly contain arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can harm your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Fluoride at elevated levels can damage tooth enamel and bones. Nitrate poses special danger to infants and can affect how blood carries oxygen. Manganese and iron at high levels can affect nervous system development, particularly in children.
Iron and manganese in county wells create staining problems on clothes, fixtures, and surfaces that are hard to remove. You may notice a metallic or unpleasant taste in your water. These minerals can also build up as scale inside pipes and appliances, shortening the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since every well in Falls County is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can address multiple 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 122 | 31% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 5 | 20% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 81 | 15% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 30 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 172 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 30 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | 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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