Groundwater in Lincoln County contains iron, manganese, sulfate, lead, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning concentrations that warrant your attention.
Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the rock beneath your county. Sulfate also occurs naturally in the bedrock and soil layers here. Nitrate and lead can come from agricultural activity, septic systems, and older plumbing in homes throughout the area.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and sulfur-bearing, driven by high levels of sulfate, calcium, and magnesium that come from the surrounding rock. The bedrock geology here naturally releases these minerals as water moves through it underground. These characteristics are widespread across wells in Lincoln County.
Wells in Lincoln County commonly have iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Lead can harm children's developing brains and cause learning problems. Manganese at elevated levels can damage the nervous system. Nitrate poses a risk to infants and pregnant women. Iron and manganese can also affect organ function over time.
The water in this county tends to be extremely hard, which causes stubborn orange and brown stains on fixtures, laundry, and skin. You may notice a rotten egg smell from sulfate. Soap does not work well in hard water, and scale builds up inside pipes and appliances. The extremely hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
Every well is different, and your well 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 you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which typically costs $200-400. Ion exchange systems or reverse osmosis 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 132 | 77% | High | High | |
| Iron | 117 | 69% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 131 | 64% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 32 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 100 | 1% | High | Low | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 89 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 132 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 45 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 10 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 9 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 23 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 117 | — | High | 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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