Groundwater in Terry County contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, sulfate, and uranium at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Several of these contaminants pose significant health concerns and warrant attention from well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the rock layers and soil that make up the High Plains aquifer in this region. Naturally occurring minerals like uranium and arsenic dissolve into groundwater as it moves through sand and gravel layers. Agricultural activities and past land use add nitrate from fertilizers and animal waste, while road salt and oil-field operations introduce chloride into the water.
Groundwater in Terry County is very hard, driven by high concentrations of sulfate and sodium along with elevated hardness minerals. The High Plains aquifer here consists of sand and gravel that holds water carrying dissolved minerals from deeper rock layers and from the soil above. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Terry County commonly have arsenic, uranium, nitrate, fluoride, and chloride at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium can increase cancer risk and harm organs when you drink them over time. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can cause serious illness. Fluoride and chloride at elevated levels can cause dental problems and other health effects.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which causes real problems in your home. Hard water leaves white scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. It makes soap less effective and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The high sulfate content creates a bitter taste and rotten egg smell that gets worse when water sits.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive panel because multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county. Your well is unique and could have higher or lower levels than what is common here--testing is the only way to know what you actually have so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel runs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Water softeners can help with hardness, and activated carbon or reverse osmosis systems can address some of the other 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 | 24 | 83% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 132 | 77% | High | High | |
| Fluoride | 273 | 62% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 40 | 42% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 24 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Uranium | 54 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 142 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 139 | 2% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 131 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 24 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 24 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 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.
* 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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