Groundwater in Lake County contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, and pfos. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and attention to water quality important for well owners.
The rock beneath this county is a mixed composition that naturally releases iron, manganese, and arsenic into water as it seeps underground. Lead enters from aging well components and plumbing. Chloride and fluoride come from both natural rock layers and human sources like road salt and industrial activity. Pfos, a manufactured chemical, accumulates in groundwater from past use in firefighting foams and industrial processes.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven mainly by calcium and magnesium dissolved from the rock layers. The mixed geology here causes these minerals to concentrate in the water as it moves through different stone types below the surface. Hard water is common across wells throughout the county, though individual well results vary.
Several analytes in Lake County wells exceed EPA health standards, including arsenic, lead, fluoride, chloride, and PFOS. Arsenic is toxic and can cause skin problems, cancer, and organ damage over time. Lead harms brain development in children and can damage the nervous system and kidneys in adults. PFOS is a human-made chemical that builds up in the body and may affect immune function and thyroid health. Fluoride and chloride at elevated levels can also pose health concerns with long-term exposure.
The mineral content in county wells creates noticeable quality-of-life impacts. Hard water leaves scale on fixtures and in pipes, and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice rust-colored or orange staining from iron, which is stubborn and hard to clean from laundry and fixtures. Some people also detect a metallic or unpleasant taste in the water.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to learn what is actually in your well, since every well is different and your levels may be higher or lower than what is common in the county. Testing costs around $200-400 and is the only way to know what treatment your well needs. Iron and manganese removal systems, along with activated carbon filters, can address several of these concerns once you have your results.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 170 | 38% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 33% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 180 | 19% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 181 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 181 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 130 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 148 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 165 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 182 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 60 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 54 | — | 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.
* 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.
Loading recent water news…