Well Water in Stokes County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Stokes County contains arsenic, chloride, and fecal coliform bacteria. Contaminant levels here are low and do not exceed EPA health standards.

These contaminants come from natural sources and land use rather than widespread pollution. Arsenic occurs naturally in the rock layers that hold this county's groundwater. Chloride and bacterial contamination can enter from septic systems or animal waste on the land surface, but the basin rock acts as a filter that keeps most of this material from reaching deep wells.

Groundwater in this county is soft with moderate iron as the main mineral character. The iron comes from minerals in the Early Mesozoic basin rock that dissolves slowly as water moves through the ground. Most wells in Stokes County show these same soft-water and moderate-iron traits.

Good news--wells in Stokes County don't show levels of contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. However, arsenic, chloride, and fecal coliform have been detected in some county wells at levels worth monitoring. Arsenic in drinking water can cause health problems over time with long-term exposure. Fecal coliform indicates that bacteria from human or animal waste may be present, which is a sign that a well needs attention.

The mineral content in county wells is generally gentle on your home. Iron shows up at moderate levels in some wells, which can leave rust-colored stains on fixtures and laundry. Overall, wells in this county tend to have soft water, which means you won't deal with heavy scale buildup on pipes and appliances or the shortened lifespan that extremely hard water can cause.

We recommend testing your well water to know exactly what you're working with, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than average for the county. A basic screening for bacteria and nitrate runs about fifty to one hundred dollars. Testing is the only way to know what needs treatment, whether that's a simple filter, chlorination, or something else tailored to your specific water.