Auglaize County's groundwater comes from old limestone and dolomite rock deep underground. This rock has small cracks and spaces where water flows slowly. The same rock layer stretches across the whole region.
Iron, manganese, and arsenic sit locked inside this limestone and dolomite. As water moves through the rock over many years, it dissolves these metals straight out. Sulfate also builds up the same way. The county has no special protection from these natural contaminants.
Your water is extremely hard and loaded with minerals. You will see white crusty buildup on faucets and inside pipes. The iron turns water orange-brown and stains sinks and laundry. A water softener and an iron filter will help, but you need testing first to know what you are dealing with.
Arsenic in Auglaize County well water exceeds EPA health standards. Iron, manganese, and sulfate also exceed safe drinking water limits. This is a serious situation that needs immediate attention. Your family's health depends on testing and treatment right away.
Long-term exposure to arsenic increases the risk of cancer and organ damage. Manganese can harm brain development in children and affect adult thinking. High iron will stain your sinks, laundry, and fixtures orange-brown. The extreme hardness and sulfate will clog pipes, damage appliances, and shorten their life.
Get your well tested by a state-certified lab immediately. A comprehensive mineral and metals panel costs between $200 and $400 and will confirm what needs treatment. A whole-house treatment system with arsenic removal, iron filtration, and water softening can address all these problems at once.
| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 80 | 70% | 19% · 12% · 69% | Moderate | High |
| Manganese | 58 | 60% | 24% · 17% · 59% | Moderate | High |
| Arsenic | 5 | 25% | 80% · 0% · 20% | Low | High |
| Sulfate | 51 | 12% | 71% · 18% · 12% | Moderate | Moderate |
| Chloride | 22 | 0% | 91% · 9% · 0% | Moderate | Low |
| Fluoride | 13 | 0% | 69% · 31% · 0% | Low | Moderate |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe |
| Sodium | 62 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| pH | 8 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe |
| Nitrate | 1 | — | — | Low | Safe |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe |
| Lead | 1 | 0% | 100% · 0% · 0% | Low | Safe |
| Hardness | 31 | — | — | 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.
Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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