Groundwater in Auglaize County contains iron, arsenic, lead, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious and require testing and treatment.
The bedrock beneath Auglaize County naturally contains these metals locked within the rock layers. As groundwater slowly moves through cracks and fractures in the bedrock, iron, arsenic, lead, and manganese dissolve out of the rock and into your water. This happens naturally over time through direct contact between water and mineral-rich stone.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and shale bedrock below. The same slow-moving water that picks up hardness also dissolves iron and other metals from the rock. These hard-water and elevated-metal characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Arsenic, iron, lead, and manganese are found at high levels in wells throughout Auglaize County. Arsenic has no taste or smell and builds up in your body over time, increasing the risk of cancer and organ damage. Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children and can harm brain development and learning. Iron and manganese at these levels can affect how your body uses oxygen and may harm children's developing brains.
Wells in this county have extremely hard water that leaves thick white crusty buildup on fixtures, in pipes, and inside appliances. The high iron content stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange or rust-brown. Very hard water like this can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The elevated sulfate can give water a bitter or unpleasant taste.
We recommend getting your well tested right away by a state-certified lab, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive minerals and metals panel typically costs $200-400 and is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. Treatment options like a water softener combined with an iron filter or arsenic-removal system can address multiple problems at once.
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 | 53 | 98% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 41 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 47 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Manganese | 48 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 51 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 31 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Sodium | 51 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 47 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 6 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 36 | — | Moderate | 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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