Well Water in Jefferson County: What to Test and Why

Moderate Risk
Testing Recommended 108 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Iron

Why This Happens Here

No contaminants have been detected in Jefferson County's groundwater, so contaminant levels here are low. Well owners in this county do not face concerns about chemical or bacterial contamination based on available testing data.

The surficial aquifer that supplies water to this county sits in sandy and permeable soil close to the land surface. This shallow position actually helps keep contamination low because sandy soil acts as a natural filter, allowing rainwater to pass through and clean itself before reaching the aquifer below. The sandy geology of this region does not naturally produce or concentrate harmful substances in the water.

Information about mineral content such as hardness, iron, and sulfate is not available for Jefferson County wells. Based on the sandy surficial aquifer here, water in this county typically does not carry high levels of minerals that create hardness or staining. Water quality varies from well to well across the county, so testing your specific well can tell you exactly what minerals it contains.

What This Means for You

County well water testing has not detected any contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. This is good news for Jefferson County residents. However, water quality can vary from well to well, so testing your specific well remains important for peace of mind.

Information about mineral content in county wells is not currently available, so we cannot describe what aesthetic issues you might encounter. Some wells in the area could have iron, hard water, or other minerals that affect taste, odor, or staining on fixtures. Without data specific to your location, it is hard to predict what your water will be like.

We recommend testing your well to find out exactly what is in your water. Every well is different, and yours may have different characteristics than others in the county. A basic screening for bacteria and nitrate costs around fifty to one hundred dollars and gives you important baseline information. If testing reveals any concerns, treatment options like filtration or ion exchange can address specific problems.

Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.

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Contaminant Detection Data

Contaminant Samples % Above MCL Distribution Confidence Risk
Iron 56 39%
Moderate High
Manganese 56 4%
Moderate Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Lead 55 0%
Moderate Low
Sulfate 105 0%
High Low
Nitrate 48 0%
Moderate Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 6 0%
Low Safe
PFOS ⓘ municipal 6 0%
Low Safe
Fluoride 105 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 6 0%
Low Safe
Nitrite 48 0%
Moderate Low
Arsenic 55 0%
Moderate Low
Chloride 105 0%
High Low
PFNA ⓘ municipal 6 0%
Low Safe
PFOA ⓘ municipal 6 0%
Low Safe
pH 105
High Low
Sodium 103
High Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 6
Low Safe
E. coli 7* 0%
Low Low
Fecal Coliform 12* 0%
Low Low
Hardness 2
Low Low
Total Coliform 19* 0%
Moderate 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.

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