Well Water in Fauquier County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Fauquier County contains radon, manganese, arsenic, chloride, sulfate, and PFOA and PFOS compounds. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, which means well owners should have their water tested and take action if results show contamination.

The Early Mesozoic basin rock beneath the county naturally contains manganese and arsenic. Radon comes from uranium decay in the rock itself. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that enter groundwater from industrial sites, firefighting foam, and other sources on the land surface above. Chloride and sulfate also occur naturally in these rock layers.

Groundwater in this county is soft and low in iron, meaning it lacks the hard minerals that plague many other areas. The rock here does not release large amounts of calcium or magnesium into the water. These balanced mineral levels are common across wells in Fauquier County.

Wells in Fauquier County have been found with arsenic, chloride, manganese, PFOA, PFOS, radon, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can cause cancer and organ damage. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that can affect your immune system, thyroid, and liver. Manganese at high levels can damage your nervous system, especially in children.

The water in this county tends to be soft, which is actually good news for scale and buildup problems. You probably won't see the staining or crusty deposits that plague harder water areas, and your appliances should last longer. Iron is present at moderate levels, so you might notice some orange or brown staining on fixtures or laundry, but it's not at the high levels that cause serious problems in other areas.

We recommend testing your well as soon as possible because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what's common in the county. A comprehensive panel testing for metals, minerals, and chemicals costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know exactly what's in your water so you can treat it properly. Treatment options like activated carbon filters, ion exchange systems, or reverse osmosis can address multiple contaminants depending on what your test shows.