Well Water in Frederick County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Frederick County contains arsenic, radon, and nitrate at levels high enough to exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present in amounts serious enough that well owners should test their water and consider treatment if levels are elevated.

Arsenic occurs naturally in the rock that makes up the Valley and Ridge aquifers here. Radon seeps into groundwater from uranium naturally present in the limestone and other rocks underground. Nitrate usually comes from fertilizer use on farms and septic systems, which leach into the water table over time.

Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven by calcium and magnesium dissolved from the carbonate rock below. This is the natural result of water moving slowly through limestone and similar minerals that make up the aquifer. Moderate hardness is common across wells throughout Frederick County because nearly all of the groundwater passes through these same rock types.

Wells in Frederick County sometimes have arsenic, chloride, nitrate, and radon above EPA health limits. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can cause cancer and damage to your nerves and kidneys. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can prevent their blood from carrying oxygen properly. Chloride at high levels can hurt people with heart or kidney problems. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when you breathe it in over many years.

County well water is moderately hard, which means you may see some white scale buildup on faucets and inside pipes. Hard water can make soap less effective and leave spots on dishes and glassware. You might notice reduced water pressure as scale accumulates in your lines over time. While the iron and sodium levels in this county are low, the moderate hardness can shorten the life of water heaters and dishwashers.

We recommend testing your well water because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. A comprehensive panel that checks for metals, minerals, bacteria, and radioactive elements typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars and is the only way to know exactly what treatment your water needs. Once you know what is in your well, you can install a filter, water softener, or other treatment system that matches your specific situation.