No contaminants have been detected in Orange County's groundwater at levels of concern. Contaminant levels here are low across the county.
The surficial aquifer system in this area sits close to the land surface and is naturally protected by sandy soil and vegetation that filter water as it moves downward. This shallow, sandy geology acts as a barrier that keeps most harmful substances from reaching your well water. The flat terrain and lack of heavy industrial activity in much of the county also help keep contamination away from groundwater.
Mineral content data is not available for most wells in Orange County, so the exact character of your water depends on your location within the county. Wells in areas underlain by sandy aquifer systems can vary widely in hardness and mineral content depending on whether deeper limestone or clay layers influence the water. Your own well's mineral profile may differ from your neighbor's well just a few miles away.
The good news is that testing in Orange County has not found contaminants exceeding EPA health standards in well water. This means wells in this county are generally not showing the serious health concerns that show up in some other areas. However, this county-level data tells you what is common overall, not what is in your specific well. Your individual well could still have issues that the county summary does not show.
Without detailed mineral data available for your county, we cannot tell you what aesthetic problems wells here commonly have. Your water could be hard, have iron staining, taste salty, or have other quality-of-life concerns that vary widely from well to well. Testing is the only way to find out what you are actually dealing with in your home.
We recommend testing your well water to know exactly what you are working with. Every well is different, and your water may have contaminants or minerals that are not showing up in county averages. A basic test for bacteria and nitrate costs $50 to $100, while a comprehensive panel for metals and minerals runs $200 to $400. Once you know what is in your water, treatment options like filtration or water softening can address your specific concerns.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 983 | 23% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 3308 | 23% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 90 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 2425 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 90 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Manganese | 376 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 369 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 2177 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 90 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 37 | 0% | Moderate | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 368 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 388 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 90 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 90 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 179 | 0% | High | Low | |
| pH | 2423 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 2423 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 2163 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 26* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 14* | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Fecal Coliform | 12* | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 90 | — | 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-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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