Groundwater in Leon County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and demand your attention.
The rock layers beneath Leon County naturally release iron and manganese as water moves through them over time. Chloride and sulfate also occur naturally in these rock formations. Saltwater intrusion from deeper layers or old mineral deposits can push these salts upward into shallower wells.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated sulfate and sodium along with moderate iron. The underlying rock dissolves these minerals into the water as it flows slowly through the formation. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Leon County commonly contain arsenic, lead, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over many years of drinking. Lead harms children's brain development and learning ability, and affects adults' blood pressure and kidney function. Manganese impacts your nervous system, especially in children, and can cause problems with movement and behavior.
Wells in this county have very hard water and very high sodium and sulfate levels, which create noticeable quality-of-life problems. You will likely see rust-colored or brown staining on fixtures, laundry, and dishes from the iron. The water may taste salty from sodium, or smell like rotten eggs from sulfate. The extremely hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances that use hot water.
Your well is different from others in the county, so your water may have higher or lower levels of these contaminants. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly. A full panel typically costs between $200 and $400. Water softeners, arsenic removal systems, and sulfate filters can all help 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | 17 | 71% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 17 | 53% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 144 | 33% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 122 | 26% | High | High | |
| Lead | 105 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 106 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 185 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sodium | 16 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 17 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 20 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 17 | — | 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.
* 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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