Mercer County groundwater contains pfoa, pfos, manganese, and multiple other contaminants including arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, radon, uranium, and nitrate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and demand your attention.
The basin rock beneath this county naturally releases manganese, iron, and uranium into groundwater as water moves through fractures and pores. Industrial chemicals like pfoa and pfos enter from manufacturing sites and contaminated soil. Nitrate seeps in from fertilizers and septic systems. Radon comes from uranium decay within the rock itself. Road salt and chloride from highways infiltrate down into wells near transportation corridors.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the mineral-rich basin rock below. As water sits in contact with the rock layers, these minerals dissolve steadily into your well water. Hard water is widespread across Mercer County wells.
Wells in Mercer County commonly exceed EPA health standards for multiple serious contaminants. Arsenic, lead, uranium, and radon are radioactive or toxic metals that damage organs and increase cancer risk with long-term exposure. Lead harms children's brain development even at low levels. Nitrate threatens infants and can cause serious illness. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to thyroid disease, immune system damage, and other health problems. Chloride at high levels can affect people with heart or kidney conditions.
County wells are moderately hard, which causes white crusty scale buildup on fixtures and in pipes. Iron in the water stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange or brown. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice a metallic taste or smell in your water.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours could have much higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what needs treatment. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems, aeration, and activated carbon filters can address multiple 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 42% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 40 | 35% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 239 | 33% | High | High | |
| Iron | 248 | 19% | High | High | |
| Radon | 91 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 227 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 151 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 39 | 3% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 184 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 252 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 71 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 248 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 196 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 186 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 251 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 456 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 36 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 250 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 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.
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