Groundwater in Beaufort County contains iron, manganese, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These minerals come from the sand and clay layers that make up the underground geology in this area. Saltwater from nearby ocean and estuaries has seeped into the groundwater over time, bringing chloride inland. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the rock layers as water moves slowly through the ground.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium that leach from the surrounding rock. The coastal plain geology here naturally concentrates these minerals as water filters down through layered sand and clay. Most wells in the county show these hard-water characteristics, though individual wells vary in their specific levels.
Wells in Beaufort County commonly contain chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Chloride and fluoride at elevated levels can affect kidney function and bone health. Manganese can harm the nervous system, especially in children. Nitrate poses a particular risk to infants and can interfere with oxygen transport in the blood.
The very hard water in county wells creates noticeable quality-of-life problems. You may see orange or brown stains on fixtures and laundry from iron buildup. Hard water reduces soap effectiveness, leaves scale inside pipes and on appliances, and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Some people report a metallic or unpleasant taste.
We recommend testing your well water. Every well is different, and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs roughly $200 to $400 and is the only way to know what is actually in your well so proper treatment can be chosen. Water softeners and iron removal systems are among the options available once testing shows what needs to be addressed.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 236 | 66% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 53 | 53% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 270 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Sulfate | 98 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrate | 71 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 258 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Lead | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 38 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Radon | 11 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 55 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 261 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 10 | — | Low | Safe | |
| Hardness | 269 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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.
Loading recent water news…