Groundwater in Washington County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, radon, and PFAS chemicals like PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant immediate testing of your well.
These contaminants come from different sources. Arsenic, iron, manganese, and radon occur naturally in the rock beneath the county. Nitrate and chloride enter from fertilizers and road salt. PFAS chemicals come from human sources like industrial sites, airports, and firefighting foam. As groundwater moves slowly through the mixed rock layers, it picks up these contaminants over time.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. Iron also concentrates in the water as it dissolves from minerals in those same layers. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county, though individual wells vary in their levels.
Wells in Washington County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, radon, manganese, chloride, nitrate, and PFAS chemicals like PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS. Arsenic and lead can damage the nervous system and increase cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters lungs and raises lung cancer risk over time. Nitrate harms infants and interferes with oxygen in the blood. Manganese at high levels affects the brain and nervous system.
County wells are very hard, which causes white scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes. Iron in the water creates rust-colored stains on clothes, sinks, and toilets and may give water a metallic taste. Very hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances. Soap and shampoo work poorly in hard water.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals, minerals, and radon panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well in Washington County is different--yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common countywide. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be treated properly. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options include iron removal systems, radon aeration, and activated carbon filters for PFAS chemicals.
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 | 7098 | 76% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4453 | 67% | High | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2706 | 36% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 843 | 15% | High | High | |
| Iron | 973 | 15% | High | Moderate | |
| Radon | 9 | 11% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 373 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 1101 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrate | 313 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 644 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 749 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 414 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 144 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 864 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 195 | 0% | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 5* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 95 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2032 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 5* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 245 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 869 | — | 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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