Well Water in Goochland County: What to Test and Why

Arsenic, chloride, and E. coli are present in Goochland County groundwater and well owners should be aware of them. The good news is that contaminant levels here are low and do not exceed EPA health standards.

Arsenic enters groundwater naturally from the rock beneath the county. Chloride comes from road salt, septic systems, and naturally occurring minerals in the basin rock. E. coli indicates sewage or animal waste near wells, which happens when septic systems leak or wells are poorly sealed. The local Early Mesozoic basin aquifers are not protected by thick, impermeable layers, making them vulnerable to surface contamination.

Groundwater in this county is soft, meaning it contains low amounts of hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium. The basin rock here does not shed large quantities of these minerals into the water. Soft water is the common pattern across wells in Goochland County.

Wells in Goochland County show traces of arsenic, chloride, and E. coli bacteria. Arsenic can damage your organs and increase cancer risk over time. Chloride at elevated levels can cause health problems, especially for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. E. coli is a dangerous bacteria that causes serious illness.

County wells are soft, which is actually good news for your pipes and appliances. You won't see the staining, scaling, or metallic taste that hard water causes. Your water heater and dishwasher should last longer than they would in areas with hard water.

We recommend testing your well water as soon as possible, since every well is different and yours could have higher levels than the county average. A comprehensive panel testing for metals and bacteria typically costs $200 to $400 and is the only way to know what's actually in your water so you can treat it properly. Treatment options like activated carbon filters or chlorination can address these concerns.