Well Water in Mason County: What to Test and Why

Water in Mason County comes from mixed rock and sand layers underground. These layers are the same type found in the neighboring counties around you. The spaces between the rock and sand grains hold the water that fills your well.

Iron, chloride, and arsenic all come from the rock itself. Iron dissolves naturally when water sits in contact with these underground layers for a long time. Chloride appears where road salt has seeped down through the soil over many years. Arsenic exists in small amounts within the rock and becomes dissolved in the water as it moves slowly through these layers.

The water here is extremely hard and mineral-rich. Iron reaches very high levels and will stain sinks, toilets, and clothing. Sodium and sulfate are also very high, which means scale will build up on pipes and fixtures and shorten their lifespan. This water needs treatment to be practical for daily use.

Mason County well water contains iron and chloride at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic is also present and warrants testing. These minerals come from natural glacial sediments underground. Your well needs attention to protect your family's health.

Iron at these high levels will stain your sinks, toilets, and laundry with orange or brown marks. The water will taste and smell bad. The extreme hardness and sulfate will cause crusty white scale buildup on pipes and appliances, shortening their lifespan. Your family may also notice a rotten-egg smell from sulfate.

Get your well tested by a state-certified lab right away. A basic health screen costs fifty to one hundred dollars. A full mineral and metals panel runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Ask the lab to test for arsenic, iron, chloride, and bacteria. A whole-house iron filter combined with a water softener can treat these problems.