Groundwater in Livingston County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, sulfate, and radon, with several reaching concerning levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron and manganese are the most frequently detected, while radon, arsenic, and chloride pose the greatest health concerns at the levels found here.
The carbonate rock beneath this county naturally releases iron and manganese as water moves slowly through it. Radon seeps in from uranium decay in the bedrock. Chloride and nitrate enter from road salt and agricultural or septic activities on the land above. These contaminants accumulate because the county's geology and land use both contribute minerals and radioactive elements to the groundwater.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone below, combined with moderate iron that adds additional mineral content. As water passes through carbonate rock, it dissolves these minerals and carries them into wells. Very hard water with moderate iron is widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Livingston County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, radon, nitrate, chloride, and manganese. Arsenic damages the kidneys and increases cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters lungs when you breathe it from water and causes lung cancer over time. Nitrate harms infants by reducing oxygen in their blood. Chloride and manganese can affect children's development and learning.
The very hard water in this county leaves white scale inside pipes and water heaters, reducing water flow and shortening the lifespan of appliances like dishwashers and water heaters. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. Hard water also makes soap less effective for cleaning.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know what needs treatment. Treatment options include water softeners for hardness, radon aeration systems, and filters for metals and arsenic.
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 | 31 | 42% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 25 | 28% | Moderate | High | |
| Radon | 18 | 28% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 32 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 32 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 23 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrate | 32 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 25 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Lead | 23 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Uranium | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 4* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 25 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 34 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 14 | — | Low | Safe | |
| Hardness | 32 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Fecal Coliform | 2* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 4* | 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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