Well Water in Hillsdale County: What to Test and Why

Your water comes from the Marshall aquifer, a layer of sandstone and other mixed rock deep underground that holds water in the spaces between its grains. This rock sits beneath clay and other sediments that glaciers left behind thousands of years ago. The sandstone lets water move through slowly, which shapes what ends up in your well.

Iron, manganese, and radon come from the rock itself—these metals are natural parts of the Marshall aquifer. Arsenic, nitrite, and sulfate also dissolve from the rock as groundwater passes through. The low-oxygen conditions deep underground help release these metals into your water. Road salt from highways adds to the sodium and chloride your neighbors sometimes see.

Your water is extremely hard and mineral-heavy. Iron reaches 210 mg/L and sodium hits 10,000 mg/L—both far above what is comfortable for daily use. Sulfate is at 31,000 mg/L, which will give your water a bitter taste and can damage pipes over time. You need to test your well and talk to your county health department about treatment options.

Radon, arsenic, and manganese exceed EPA health standards in Hillsdale County well water. This is a high-urgency situation. Your well needs testing right away. Radon enters homes as a gas and builds up indoors. Arsenic and manganese are metals that dissolve into groundwater.

Long-term exposure to radon increases lung cancer risk. Arsenic exposure raises cancer risk in your kidneys, bladder, and skin. Manganese harms brain development in children and can affect memory and learning in adults. Your water likely has a strong rotten-egg smell and stains sinks and laundry orange or brown from the high iron and sulfate levels.

Get your well tested through a state-certified lab immediately. A basic health screen costs $50–100, and a comprehensive metals panel runs $200–400. Ask the lab to test for radon, arsenic, manganese, iron, nitrite, and sulfate. A whole-house treatment system with radon ventilation, arsenic removal, and iron filtration can address these contaminants together.