Groundwater in Oldham County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, and fluoride. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
These metals come from the rock and soil layers beneath the county. As water moves slowly underground through sand and gravel, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and elements that are part of the local geology. The High Plains aquifer here sits above layers containing these dissolved metals, which leach into the water over time.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rock. The moderate iron levels also contribute to the water's overall mineral character. This hardness and these mineral concentrations are common across wells throughout the county.
Arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese exceed EPA health standards in county wells. Arsenic and fluoride can damage kidneys and bones with long-term exposure. Manganese affects the nervous system over time. Iron and manganese in drinking water pose health concerns with repeated contact.
County wells have hard water that leaves white scale on pipes and fixtures. You may notice rust stains from iron or dark spots from manganese. The water can taste metallic or have an odd flavor. Hard water reduces soap effectiveness and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
Since every well is different, your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common here, and testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to check for all of these concerns, which usually costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Iron filters or reverse osmosis systems can treat these issues effectively.
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 | 72 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 71 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 56 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 156 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 56 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 6 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | Low | 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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