Groundwater in Delta County contains iron, manganese, and PFOS, along with chloride and lead. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the bedrock as groundwater moves slowly through cracks in the rock. PFOS is a synthetic chemical that may enter groundwater from industrial or municipal sources. Chloride can come from road salt applied during winter road treatment in the county.
Groundwater in Delta County is very hard, driven by calcium and magnesium from the underlying rock layers. As water moves slowly through the Silurian-Devonian bedrock, it dissolves these minerals in significant amounts. Very hard water is common across wells throughout this county.
Wells in Delta County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, lead, manganese, and PFOS. Lead damages children's developing brains and nervous systems even at low levels. Manganese harms brain development in children and can affect nerve function in adults with long-term exposure. Chloride at elevated levels can raise blood pressure in people who are sodium-sensitive. PFOS is a synthetic chemical that builds up in your body and may affect immune function and cholesterol levels.
Wells in this county have extremely hard water, which causes white crusty scale buildup on pipes, fixtures, and appliances like water heaters and dishwashers--this scale can shorten their lifespan. Iron at moderate levels causes orange or rust-colored staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. The water may also taste metallic or slightly bitter from the sulfate content. Hard water makes soap less effective and can leave mineral residue on skin and hair.
We recommend testing your well water through a certified laboratory because every well is different and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs $200-400. Treatment options may include a water softener combined with an iron filter and aeration system for radon removal, depending on your specific test results.
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 | 128 | 39% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 38% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 98 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 173 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 143 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 22 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 65 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 25 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 12 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Radon | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 48 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 134 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 63 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 179 | — | High | 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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