Groundwater in Roscommon County contains iron, manganese, and arsenic. Iron reaches very high levels, while manganese and arsenic exceed EPA health standards.
These metals come from the rock layers beneath the county. As groundwater moves slowly through the spaces in the rock, iron and manganese dissolve naturally from minerals in the stone. Arsenic also occurs naturally in certain rock layers and enters the water the same way.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated iron and hardness minerals from the rock below. Iron concentrations are very high in local groundwater, and this characteristic is common across wells in the county.
Arsenic, iron, manganese, and chloride exceed EPA health standards in wells in this county. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over years and increases your risk of cancer and organ damage. Iron and manganese at elevated levels can harm your nervous system and organs. Chloride at high levels is a concern for people with high blood pressure or heart disease.
Wells in this county commonly cause staining and scaling problems. Iron leaves orange and brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry that are hard to remove. Manganese creates dark stains. The water likely tastes metallic or bitter. High mineral content can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well as soon as possible 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. Treatment options like iron removal systems and reverse osmosis filters can address multiple contaminants.
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 | 6 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 6 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 5 | 20% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 120 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 117 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 116 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 5 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 121 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 5 | — | 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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