Well Water in Oakland County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Oakland County contains iron, arsenic, and manganese that well owners should know about. These contaminant levels are serious--arsenic, along with chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, PFHXS, PFOA, PFOS, radon, and sulfate all exceed EPA health standards in this county.

These contaminants come from the Marshall aquifer rock itself, which naturally holds iron and manganese. As groundwater moves slowly through this sandstone layer deep underground, these metals dissolve into the water. Arsenic is locked inside the rock and releases gradually. Road salt spread on winter roads also adds chloride, which seeps down into the aquifer.

Groundwater in Oakland County is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium, and also contains elevated iron. The slow movement of water through the sandstone releases these minerals into the water over time. High iron levels are common across wells in this county, making this a widespread characteristic of the local groundwater.

Wells in Oakland County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, radon, fluoride, and nitrate. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and increases your risk of cancer and heart disease. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters water from naturally occurring uranium in the rock below. Fluoride and nitrate at elevated levels can harm children's development and cause digestive issues. These contaminants come straight from the rock and soil your well taps into.

Wells in this county show very high hardness and significant iron content, which creates practical problems in your home. Iron leaves orange-brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry that are hard to remove. The extremely hard water builds scale inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, shortening their lifespan. You may notice a metallic taste in your water and discoloration when you fill glasses or run the tap.

We recommend testing your well, since every well is different and your water 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 well so it can be properly treated. Because multiple analytes exceed health standards here, a comprehensive metals and minerals panel is recommended, which typically costs $200-400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or arsenic-specific filters paired with iron removal can address multiple contaminants at once.