Groundwater in Madison County contains iron, manganese, sulfate, arsenic, and lead. These contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment necessary for well owners.
These metals and sulfate come from the rock layers beneath the county. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks and fractures in the limestone and shale, iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the stone. Sulfate forms when water reacts with minerals in the rock. Arsenic and lead also occur naturally in these rock formations.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone below. The water also carries very high iron and moderate sulfate and sodium. These mineral characteristics are widespread across wells in Madison County.
Wells in Madison County commonly contain arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, and sulfate at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Lead damages children's brain development and can harm kidney function in adults. Manganese at elevated levels can affect learning and behavior in children. These metals and minerals come from the natural rock layers beneath the county.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which means you will see thick white crusty buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. Iron causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. High sulfate levels can give your water a bitter or metallic taste. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel because 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 water so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-$400. Treatment options include water softeners combined with iron removal systems and point-of-entry filtration designed for arsenic reduction.
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 | 91 | 99% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 91 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 9 | 22% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 84 | 17% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 84 | 5% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 89 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 72 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 77 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 77 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 91 | — | 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.
Loading recent water news…