Well Water in Lake County: What to Test and Why

Moderate Risk
Testing Recommended 712 well tests on record
Top Concerns in This County
Pfos Iron Pfoa

Why This Happens Here

Contaminant levels in Lake County groundwater are low across the board. No harmful substances exceed EPA health standards, which means well owners here have groundwater that is clean from a health perspective.

The local geology keeps contamination down. Lake County sits on sand and sandy soil layers that naturally filter water as it moves underground. These materials act like a screen that stops many pollutants from reaching the aquifer, and the area's land use patterns do not create major sources of chemical pollution that would overwhelm this natural protection.

Information about hardness and minerals in Lake County's groundwater is not available from recent testing. The surficial aquifer here is made of sand and sandy materials, which typically allow water to pick up some minerals but not in high amounts compared to limestone areas. Wells across the county vary in their mineral content, so your water's character will depend on your specific location and depth.

What This Means for You

The good news is that Lake County wells show no contaminants exceeding EPA health standards in the county-level data. This means the water quality across the county is generally meeting federal health guidelines. However, this county-level information tells you what is common across the area, not what is in your specific well.

While major health concerns are not showing up in county data, mineral content in well water can still affect your daily life. Hard water can leave spots on dishes and shower doors, reduce the effectiveness of soap, and cause scale buildup in pipes and appliances. If your well has high mineral levels, this scale can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers over time.

We recommend testing your well water to find out exactly what is in it, since every well is different and your water may have different levels than what is common in the county. A basic screening for bacteria and nitrate runs about fifty to one hundred dollars and gives you a starting point. Testing is the only way to know what treatment, if any, your well actually needs.

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

Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →

Contaminant Detection Data

Contaminant Samples % Above MCL Distribution Confidence Risk
PFOS ⓘ municipal 83 41%
Moderate High
Iron 630 21%
High High
PFOA ⓘ municipal 83 18%
Moderate High
Chloride 655 10%
High Moderate
Manganese 580 3%
High Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
Nitrate 35 3%
Moderate Low
Sulfate 578 3%
High Low
PFHxS ⓘ municipal 83 1%
Moderate Low
Arsenic 576 0%
High Low
Lead 579 0%
High Low
Radon 3 0%
Low Low
Uranium 3 0%
Low Low
PFNA ⓘ municipal 83 0%
Moderate Low
Fluoride 129 0%
High Low
HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal 83 0%
Moderate Safe
Nitrite 33 0%
Moderate Low
pH 660
High Low
Sodium 655
High Low
Hardness 58
Moderate Low
Total Coliform 44* 0%
Moderate Low
E. coli 19* 0%
Moderate Low
Fecal Coliform 25* 0%
Moderate Low
PFBS ⓘ municipal 83
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.

Order a Tap Score Test →

Population Health Context

Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.

8.7%
Cancer Prevalence
(state avg: 6.8%)
3.8%
Kidney Disease Rate
(state avg: 3.4%)
6.1%
Heart Disease Rate
(state avg: 7.7%)

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