Groundwater in Stevens County contains arsenic, manganese, iron, lead, and PFOS--chemicals that well owners need to know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a real concern for your drinking water.
These contaminants come from different sources in the local environment. Arsenic and manganese occur naturally in the rock layers beneath the county. Iron and lead can leach from pipes and soil, while PFOS and related chemicals come from industrial use and pollution that has entered the groundwater over time.
Groundwater in Stevens County is very hard, driven by high levels of sulfate and elevated hardness minerals in the water. The rock formations here release sulfate and minerals that dissolve into the groundwater as it flows underground. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Stevens County commonly contain arsenic, lead, and other metals at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic can cause skin problems and increase cancer risk with long-term exposure. Lead harms children's brain development and learning, even at low levels. Manganese at elevated levels can affect the nervous system. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that can weaken your immune system and affect your liver.
The water in this county is very hard, which causes buildup of scale inside pipes and appliances. You may see staining from iron on sinks and laundry. Hard water reduces how well soap works and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. High sulfate levels can give water a bitter or medicinal taste.
We recommend testing your well water right away since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. Water softeners and filtration systems can address both hardness and metal 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 88% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 16 | 75% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 41 | 66% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 18 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 58 | 48% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 54 | 41% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 11 | 27% | Low | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 14% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 29 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 6 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 8 | — | — | Low | Low ⓘ |
| Sodium | 38 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 9 | — | — | 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.
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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