Groundwater in Richland County contains manganese, iron, and arsenic that exceed EPA health standards. These exceedances are serious enough to require testing and treatment.
The rock layers beneath Richland County naturally contain these metals locked inside. As groundwater sits in contact with this rock over time, manganese, iron, and arsenic slowly dissolve into the water.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the limestone and rock below. These minerals concentrate as water moves slowly through the bedrock and sits in contact with the rock layers. Very hard water is extremely common across wells throughout Richland County.
Arsenic, lead, and manganese exceed EPA health standards in wells across Richland County. Arsenic can build up in your body over time and increase health risks. Lead is especially dangerous for children and can affect development and learning. Manganese at elevated levels can harm brain function and nervous system health.
Wells in this county are extremely hard, which leaves thick white crusty scale on fixtures and inside pipes. The high iron content causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Extreme hardness and elevated iron can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may also notice a metallic taste in your water.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well is different, and yours 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 comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400, and treatment options include reverse osmosis systems for arsenic or water softeners combined with iron filters.
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 | 99 | 79% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 118 | 71% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 86 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 96 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 1971 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 101 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 50 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 62 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 81 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 13 | — | Low | Safe | |
| pH | 729 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 1712 | — | High | 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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