Groundwater in Pike County contains manganese, iron, chloride, arsenic, and nitrate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, which is a concern that deserves your attention.
These contaminants come from the natural rock layers beneath the county. The Silurian-Devonian bedrock here contains iron and manganese locked inside the rock itself. As groundwater slowly moves through cracks and fractures in this layered rock, it dissolves these metals and picks up chloride, arsenic, and sulfate from minerals in the formation. Nitrate can enter from both natural sources and land activities like agriculture or septic systems.
Groundwater in Pike County is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and dolomite in the bedrock, and also carries very high iron. The slow movement of water through these old rock layers gives minerals plenty of time to dissolve into the water. These hard-water and high-iron characteristics are common across wells tapping this aquifer throughout the county.
Wells in Pike County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and nitrate. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and can cause cancer and organ damage. Manganese harms brain development in children and can affect thinking and memory. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can prevent their blood from carrying oxygen. Chloride at high levels can raise blood pressure in adults over time.
Wells in this county have very hard water with elevated iron levels. Hard water leaves thick white crusty buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown or rust-colored. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may also notice a metallic taste in the water or rotten-egg odors.
We recommend testing your well because every well is different and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be treated properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs $200-400. Treatment options like water softeners combined with iron removal systems or arsenic filters can address multiple 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 | 158 | 78% | High | High | |
| Iron | 158 | 71% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 163 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 65 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 103 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 46 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 62 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 93 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 105 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 137 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 148 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 165 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 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.
Loading recent water news…