Groundwater in Windham County contains manganese, iron, lead, arsenic, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and uranium. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, which means well owners should test their water and consider treatment if needed.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources. The rock underlying this county naturally contains metals like iron, manganese, and arsenic that dissolve into groundwater as it moves through. Nitrate and chloride often enter from road salt, septic systems, and fertilizer use on the land above. Lead typically comes from old plumbing or solder in wells and homes built decades ago.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven mainly by calcium and magnesium dissolved from the rock. The same geological conditions that create hardness--water sitting in contact with mineral-rich rock for long periods--also allow metals to dissolve into the water. Hardness is found in most wells across the county.
Wells in Windham County commonly have arsenic, chloride, fluoride, lead, uranium, and nitrate above EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium are radioactive elements that can increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms children's brain development and learning. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can cause serious illness. Fluoride and chloride at high levels also pose health concerns.
Hard water in this county can leave white mineral deposits on fixtures and dishes. You might notice scale buildup in pipes and on your water heater. The hardness can shorten the lifespan of appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. However, the iron levels here are low, so you should not see staining problems from rust.
We recommend testing your well water through a comprehensive panel since several health concerns show up in county wells. Every well is different, and your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive panel costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars and can identify all the contaminants present. Treatment options like reverse osmosis or ion exchange can address multiple contaminants depending on what testing reveals.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 926 | 14% | High | Moderate | |
| Iron | 767 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 2550 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 1095 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 1185 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 1092 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 1050 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 1636 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 1034 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 763 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 537 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 15 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 7 | — | Low | 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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