Groundwater in Alamance County contains manganese, PFOS, and PFOA at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concentrations the county's well owners should know about and address.
Manganese comes from the crystalline rock beneath the county. PFOS and PFOA are human-made chemicals from industrial and commercial activity that seep downward through soil and enter groundwater supplies. Both sources of contamination are common in this region where the rock and past land use patterns create pathways for these substances to reach wells.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the crystalline rock below. Water moving through these rocks dissolves minerals that accumulate over time. This mineral-rich character appears across many wells in Alamance County.
Wells in Alamance County sometimes contain manganese, PFOA, and PFOS at levels above EPA health standards. Manganese can affect your nervous system and cause problems with thinking and movement when you drink it over a long time. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that build up in your body and do not break down. They can harm your liver, thyroid, and immune system with repeated exposure.
The water in county wells tends to be very hard because of minerals dissolved from the rock. Very hard water leaves scale buildup on faucets and inside pipes. It makes soap less effective for cleaning. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers because mineral deposits clog them up over time.
Your well is different from the average well in this county, so your water could have higher or lower levels of these contaminants. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel that checks for manganese, PFOA, PFOS, and hardness--this typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Treatment options like activated carbon filters and ion exchange systems can remove 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 | 2 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 86% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 64% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Iron | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 22 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 2 | — | 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.
* 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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