Groundwater in Harrison County contains manganese, iron, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning concentrations that require your attention.
The Pennsylvanian rock layers beneath this county contain iron and manganese locked inside the shale and coal-bearing stone. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in these old rocks, it dissolves these metals and also picks up sulfate from minerals in the same layers. This slow contact between water and rock is why these contaminants show up across wells in the area.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rock, along with high iron and manganese. These minerals concentrate here because water sits in contact with the shale and coal-bearing layers for a long time. Hard water with high iron and manganese is common across wells throughout Harrison County.
Wells in Harrison County commonly have chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Manganese exposure over time can harm your nervous system and brain development. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels can cause digestive problems. Iron itself does not have a health standard, but it dissolves from rock and concentrates in county groundwater.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which means white crusty scale builds up inside pipes, on fixtures, and inside appliances like water heaters and dishwashers--shortening their lifespan. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange or brown. The high sulfate and sodium levels may give the water a metallic or salty taste. These mineral levels make daily life difficult and expensive over time.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which typically costs $200-400. Every well is different, and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be properly treated. A water softener paired with an iron removal system 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 77 | 71% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 77 | 66% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 24 | 17% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 77 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 67 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 70 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 68 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 77 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 59 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 74 | — | 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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