Well Water in Lenawee County: What to Test and Why

Lenawee County's groundwater sits in the Marshall aquifer, which is an old sandstone layer buried deep underground. This rock formed from ancient sand and holds water in the tiny spaces between its grains. Wells in this county draw from this same sandstone layer.

Iron, manganese, and chloride all come from the sandstone rock itself and from road salt soaking down into the ground. When groundwater sits in contact with the rock for a long time, iron and manganese dissolve into the water. Road salt applied to highways and county roads also seeps down and adds chloride to wells.

The water in this area is loaded with minerals. Iron stains sinks and laundry orange-brown. High sodium and sulfate make the water taste salty and bitter. The extreme mineral content will coat pipes and water heaters with thick scale.

Chloride, iron, and manganese in Lenawee County well water exceed EPA health standards. This is a high-urgency situation that demands action now. Your well water is not safe to drink without treatment.

Long-term exposure to these metals harms your health. Manganese damages brain development in children. Iron and chloride cause staining and scaling that damages pipes, water heaters, and fixtures. Your water likely tastes metallic or bitter and has a strong mineral smell.

Get your well tested immediately through a state-certified lab. A basic health screen runs $50–100. A comprehensive metals panel runs $200–400. A whole-house treatment system with filtration and oxidation can remove iron and manganese.