Well owners in Jackson County should be aware of arsenic, manganese, pfoa, lead, chloride, and sulfate in the groundwater. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making water testing and treatment important for your well.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources in the local rock and soil. Arsenic and manganese occur naturally in the rock layers beneath the county. Chloride and sulfate build up from the slow movement of water through rock and soil over time. Lead enters from older pipes and well components, not from the rock itself.
Groundwater in Jackson County is very hard, driven by high levels of sulfate and calcium and magnesium dissolved from the rock. The very hard water results from minerals in the underground rock that dissolve slowly as water moves through it over years. Most wells in this county show this hard-water character.
Wells in Jackson County have been found to contain arsenic, chloride, lead, manganese, PFOA, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms brain development in children and causes learning problems. Manganese at high levels can affect the nervous system and cause movement problems. PFOA is a chemical linked to kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels also pose health concerns with long-term exposure.
The very hard water in Jackson County wells will leave white scale buildup on fixtures, faucets, and inside pipes. You'll see staining on sinks and showers. Soap won't lather well, and your skin may feel dry after bathing. The high sulfate levels can create a bitter or salty taste. Very hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines because scale clogs the inside of these appliances.
We recommend testing your well as soon as possible, since every well in the county is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel runs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or ion exchange softeners can remove many of these 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 10 | 89% | Low | High | |
| Arsenic | 33 | 47% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 52 | 36% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 46 | 24% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 84 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 23 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 11 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Sodium | 53 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 27 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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.
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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