Union County groundwater contains radon, PFOS, and arsenic. PFOS and radon exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
Radon seeps into groundwater from uranium naturally present in the crystalline rock beneath the county. PFOS comes from human sources like industrial sites or firefighting foam used at airports and military facilities. Arsenic occurs naturally in small amounts in the rock itself, though at levels below the EPA standard.
Groundwater in this county is soft, with very low iron, sodium, and sulfate. The hard crystalline rock does not dissolve easily into water the way limestone does, so minerals remain sparse. Soft water with minimal mineral content is the norm across wells in this county.
Wells in Union County have been found to contain PFOS and radon at levels that exceed EPA health standards. PFOS is a chemical that builds up in the body over time and can affect the immune system, liver, and thyroid. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from rock and soil and can increase the risk of lung cancer when breathed in over many years.
The good news is that Union County wells are naturally soft with very low iron, sodium, and sulfate. This means you will not see orange or brown staining, scale buildup on fixtures, or problems with appliance lifespan. Your water should taste and smell clean without mineral flavors or odors.
Every well is different, and yours may have higher or lower levels of these contaminants than what is common in the county. We recommend testing your specific well to find out what is actually there so you can treat it properly if needed. A comprehensive panel checking for metals, minerals, and chemicals runs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Treatment options like activated carbon filters or radon mitigation systems can address these concerns if testing shows they are present in your well.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 26 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 26 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 4 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 4 | — | 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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