Groundwater in Lyon County contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate--all at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning levels and require your attention.
The rock beneath this county naturally releases iron, manganese, and sulfate as water moves through it over time. Agricultural activity adds nitrate from fertilizers and manure. Road salt contributes chloride, and arsenic and fluoride occur naturally in the local bedrock.
Your well water in Lyon County is very hard and very high in sulfate and iron, driven by minerals dissolving from the surrounding rock. The bedrock here slowly breaks down and releases these minerals into the water as it flows underground. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Lyon County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, nitrate, fluoride, and chloride. Arsenic and lead can damage your kidneys and harm children's brain development. Nitrate reduces how well your blood carries oxygen. Fluoride at high levels can damage tooth enamel. Chloride at elevated concentrations affects people with heart and kidney conditions.
Wells in this county also contain very high levels of iron, sulfate, sodium, and minerals that make the water extremely hard. Iron causes orange or brown staining on fixtures and laundry. Sulfate can give water a rotten egg smell and taste. The extreme hardness shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers, makes soap less effective, and creates scale buildup in pipes.
We recommend a comprehensive water test that checks for metals, minerals, bacteria, and nitrate. A full panel typically costs $200 to $400. Your well is different from others in the county--it could have higher or lower levels of any contaminant. Testing is the only way to know what you are drinking so you can get the right treatment. Reverse osmosis systems, ion exchange softeners, and specialized filters address different concerns.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | 76 | 88% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 72 | 64% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 76 | 58% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 24 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 24 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 56 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 85 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 58 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 73 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 28 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 30 | — | 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.
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