Ogemaw County's groundwater sits in sandstone rock layers deep underground. These rock layers hold water in tiny spaces between sand grains. The sandstone stretches across a wide area and feeds private wells throughout the county.
Iron, arsenic, and manganese appear naturally in this sandstone. As groundwater sits in contact with the rock for years, these metals dissolve into the water. The rock itself contains these metals, not pollution from the surface. Sodium and chloride also come from ancient salt deposits trapped in the same rock layers.
The water in this area is heavily mineralized and very hard. Iron at 510 milligrams per liter will stain sinks, laundry, and fixtures orange or brown. Sodium at 6600 milligrams per liter makes the water taste salty and poses real health concerns, especially for people watching their sodium intake.
Arsenic exceeds EPA health standards in Ogemaw County well water. Iron and manganese also exceed their federal limits. This is a serious situation that needs your attention right away. Your well water is a health concern for your family.
Long-term exposure to arsenic increases your risk of cancer and harms your kidneys and heart. Manganese at high levels can affect how your brain works. The extremely high iron will stain your sinks, tub, and laundry orange or reddish-brown. Your water probably tastes metallic.
Get your well tested through a state-certified lab as soon as possible. A basic health screen for bacteria and nitrate costs around fifty to one hundred dollars. A full metals panel runs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Arsenic removal typically requires a reverse osmosis system or specialized filtration installed at your tap.
| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 10 | 70% | 10% · 20% · 70% | Low | High |
| Arsenic | 8 | 38% | 38% · 25% · 38% | Low | High |
| Manganese | 9 | 22% | 56% · 22% · 22% | Low | High |
| Sulfate | 24 | 4% | 92% · 4% · 4% | Moderate | Moderate |
| Chloride | 27 | 4% | 93% · 4% · 4% | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fluoride | 4 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Low |
| Nitrite | 3 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Low |
| Sodium | 19 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe |
| pH | 6 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Nitrate | 28 | — | — | Moderate | 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.
Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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