Arsenic, PFOS, and PFOA are present in groundwater in Henry County and exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are high enough to be a real concern for well owners.
Arsenic comes naturally from the crystalline rock beneath the county. PFOS and PFOA are human-made chemicals that reach groundwater from industrial sites, military bases, or landfills in the area. Both types of contamination travel through cracks and spaces in the hard rock that makes up the local aquifer.
Groundwater in Henry County is soft, with moderate iron as the main mineral character. The crystalline rock here releases iron into the water as it slowly dissolves over time. Iron at moderate levels is found in many wells across the county.
Wells in Henry County have been found to contain arsenic, PFOA, and PFOS at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk with long-term exposure. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that build up in your body over time and may affect your immune system, liver, and thyroid. These contaminants have no color, taste, or smell, so you cannot detect them without testing.
The mineral content in county wells is generally balanced and should not create significant water quality problems in your home. Iron levels are moderate, which means some wells may show light staining on fixtures or laundry, but this is not universal across the county. Your well water is soft, so you likely will not experience scale buildup in pipes or appliances. The sodium and sulfate levels are low.
We recommend testing your well to find out what is actually in your water, since every well in the county is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. A comprehensive panel that checks for metals and the contaminants of concern in Henry County costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know what treatment your well needs. Arsenic and PFOA/PFOS can be removed with specialized filters or activated carbon systems designed for these specific contaminants.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 40 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Iron | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Fluoride | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 40 | — | 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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