Groundwater in Gloucester County contains iron, manganese, and PFOA, along with arsenic, chloride, lead, nitrate, radon, and fluoride. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and need your attention.
These contaminants come from mixed sources. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the sand and gravel layers beneath the county. Arsenic and radon also occur naturally in the rock. Chloride enters from road salt and industrial activity. PFOA and other PFAS chemicals are human-made industrial compounds that have reached groundwater through contamination.
Groundwater in this county is soft with moderate iron and sodium. Iron dissolves naturally from minerals in the sand and gravel aquifer that sits beneath Gloucester County. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Gloucester County wells commonly exceed EPA health standards for several serious contaminants. Arsenic, lead, and radon are all present at levels that pose health risks with long-term exposure. PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS are industrial chemicals linked to thyroid disease and other health effects. Nitrate can harm infants and interfere with oxygen in the blood. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels can cause digestive issues, especially for people with heart or kidney conditions.
County wells have moderate iron levels that cause rust-colored stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic or slightly bitter taste in your water. The soft to moderate hardness means you won't see heavy scale buildup, but iron deposits can still clog pipes over time and make soap less effective.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel test, since your county has multiple contaminants exceeding health standards. Every well is different, and yours 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 panel typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options like activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems can address specific 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 924 | 41% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 922 | 40% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 167 | 17% | High | High | |
| Radon | 102 | 10% | High | Moderate ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 167 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 519 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 813 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 166 | 5% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 508 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 1682 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Sulfate | 947 | 3% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 166 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 697 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 169 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 674 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 187 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 1019 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 1353 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 165 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 2* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 917 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 2* | 0% | 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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