Groundwater in Pasquotank County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, chloride, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a real concern for your well.
These metals and salts come from the rock and sediment layers beneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the sandy and clayey materials in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system. Arsenic occurs naturally in these sediments as well. Chloride and sulfate accumulate in the groundwater from old seawater trapped in deeper layers during ancient times when the ocean covered this region.
Groundwater in this county is hard and notably high in iron. The sandy and clayey sediment layers release calcium and magnesium, which create hardness, while iron concentrations are very high throughout the area. These characteristics are widespread across wells in Pasquotank County.
Pasquotank County wells commonly contain arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic is toxic and can damage organs with long-term exposure. Chloride can affect people with kidney disease or high blood pressure. Iron and manganese at high levels can cause health problems in infants and people with certain medical conditions. Sulfate can cause digestive issues in some people.
County wells have hard water with very high iron, which creates rust-colored staining on fixtures, laundry, and skin. You may see brown or orange buildup in toilets and on shower walls. The water can taste metallic. Hard water this severe shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines because scale builds up inside them.
We recommend testing your well right away. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400 and will check for all these concerns. Treatment options like arsenic removal systems and iron filters can address these problems.
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 | 95 | 86% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 17 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 99 | 19% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 94 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 52 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 48 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 86 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 56 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 50 | — | 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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