Well Water in Genesee County: What to Test and Why

Your well draws water from sandstone rock buried deep underground. This sandstone sits beneath thick layers of clay and sand that were left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago. Water moves slowly through the sandstone, picking up minerals and metals from the rock itself.

Manganese, arsenic, and iron come straight from the sandstone. These metals are naturally locked inside the rock and dissolve into water over time. The clay layers above the sandstone protect your water from surface pollution like road salt and farm chemicals, but they cannot stop these natural metals from entering your well.

Your water is very hard and salty. The high sodium and sulfate levels come from the sandstone and make the water taste off. Iron stains your sinks and toilets orange-brown, and you will see white crusty buildup from hardness on your shower heads and pipes. Your water heater and plumbing will wear out faster than normal.

Arsenic in Genesee County well water exceeds EPA health standards. Iron, manganese, chloride, and sulfate also exceed their limits. This is a serious situation that needs your attention right now. Your well water is not safe to drink without treatment.

Long-term exposure to arsenic increases your risk of cancer and heart disease. Manganese can harm brain development in children. Iron at these extreme levels will stain your sinks, toilets, and laundry red-brown. The high sodium and sulfate levels will make the water taste salty and bitter, and will wear out pipes and water heaters faster than normal.

Get your well tested by a state-certified lab right away. A basic health screen costs fifty to one hundred dollars. A complete metals and minerals panel costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. You need an arsenic removal system, which a licensed water treatment professional can install at your well's entry point.