Groundwater in Warren County contains chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, uranium, and the industrial chemicals PFOA and PFOS. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards and demand your attention.
The limestone bedrock beneath Warren County naturally dissolves and releases iron, manganese, and uranium into groundwater. Road salt applied to highways seeps downward through the fractured rock and adds chloride. PFOA and PFOS, human-made chemicals, enter from industrial sites and contaminated sites that sit atop or near the aquifer.
Warren County groundwater is very hard, driven by calcium and magnesium that dissolve from the limestone below. These mineral characteristics are widespread across the county's wells.
Wells in Warren County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, uranium, and PFNA and PFOS chemicals. Uranium is radioactive and can damage your kidneys over time. Manganese can harm children's brain development. PFNA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to thyroid problems and cancer risk. Nitrate poses serious risks to infants and young children.
Warren County wells are extremely hard, which means you will see thick white crusty buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. This scale can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The hardness combined with iron and manganese can stain sinks, toilets, and laundry orange or brown. You may notice a metallic taste in your water.
We recommend testing your well comprehensively since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well is different--yours could have much higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs $200-400 and will identify which contaminants need attention. Aeration systems and activated carbon filters can address many of these concerns.
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 | 67 | 33% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 67 | 18% | Moderate | High | |
| Uranium | 14 | 14% | Low | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 127 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 138 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 128 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| Iron | 128 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 68 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 116 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 108 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 67 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 128 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 118 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 68 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 130 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Radon | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 66 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 138 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 123 | — | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 123 | — | High | 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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