Bennington County groundwater contains radon, iron, and manganese as the top contaminants detected. Several of these--arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, radon, and uranium--exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These contaminants come from the rock beneath the county. The carbonate bedrock naturally releases uranium, arsenic, radon, and radioactive elements as water flows through it. Iron and manganese also dissolve from the surrounding rock layers. Road salt applied in winter can add chloride to groundwater, and old metal pipes in some wells may contribute lead.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by calcium and magnesium leached from the carbonate limestone bedrock. As water moves through limestone, these minerals dissolve readily and accumulate in wells throughout the area. Hard water is the dominant mineral characteristic across most wells in Bennington County.
Wells in Bennington County can contain arsenic, lead, uranium, and radon at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic exposure over time can damage the kidneys and increase cancer risk. Lead harms the brain and nervous system, especially in children and developing babies. Uranium and radon are radioactive elements that increase the risk of cancer when people are exposed over many years. Chloride and manganese also exceed standards in some county wells; manganese affects the nervous system at high levels.
Bennington County has very hard water, which causes white scale buildup on faucets, shower heads, and inside pipes. The hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. You may notice spots on dishes after washing or feel a film on your skin after showering. Hard water also makes soap less effective for cleaning.
Every well in the county is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels of these contaminants than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive panel that checks for metals, uranium, radon, and bacteria; this usually costs between $200 and $400. Water softeners can address hardness, and radon can be removed with aeration or sub-slab depressurization systems.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 31 | 100% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 270 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 341 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 1812 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 856 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 772 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 571 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 587 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 516 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 493 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 49 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 18 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 198 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 269 | — | High | 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.
Loading recent water news…