Groundwater in Lenawee County contains iron, manganese, chloride, arsenic, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and demand attention.
These metals and minerals come from the Marshall aquifer rock itself. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally when groundwater sits in contact with the bedrock for long periods. Arsenic is locked inside the rock and releases slowly into the water. Chloride enters partly from road salt applied to highways and county roads.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and mixed rock below. The iron concentration adds to this hardness and gives the water a mineral-rich character. These characteristics appear across most wells in the county as the slow-moving water dissolves minerals directly from the aquifer rock.
Wells in Lenawee County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic and manganese. Arsenic is a toxic substance that builds up in your body over time and can increase the risk of cancer and damage to skin and organs. Manganese is especially harmful to children's brain development and can affect learning and behavior when consumed in drinking water over many years. Iron and sulfate also exceed safe levels in county wells, though they pose different concerns than arsenic and manganese.
The mineral content in Lenawee County well water creates noticeable quality-of-life impacts. Very hard water will coat pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers with thick white scale, shortening the lifespan of these appliances. Iron at elevated levels stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange or brown. Sulfate gives the water a bitter or rotten-egg taste that affects everyday drinking and cooking.
We recommend testing your well water because every well is different and yours 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 water so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs $200-400 and will show you exactly what you're dealing with. Treatment options like water softeners combined with iron and arsenic removal systems can address these issues once you know your specific 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 | 19 | 84% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 19 | 58% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 22 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 9 | 11% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 22 | 5% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrate | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrite | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 3* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 22 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 18 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 29 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 18 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 3* | 0% | 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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