Groundwater in Summit County contains iron, arsenic, and sulfate that well owners should be aware of. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making this a serious concern.
The rock beneath Summit County naturally releases these metals and minerals as groundwater moves slowly through cracks and fractures. Arsenic and iron dissolve straight from the stone itself. Sulfate comes from sulfur-bearing minerals in the rock layers. The area's other rocks create an environment where these contaminants concentrate over time.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with iron and sulfate as the main minerals driving that character. The bedrock naturally contains these elements, and water picks them up as it moves through the stone. Hard water with elevated iron and sulfate is widespread across wells in Summit County.
Wells in Summit County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, fluoride, and PFOA. Arsenic is a toxic metal that builds up in your body over time and increases cancer risk. Fluoride at elevated levels can affect bone health. PFOA is a chemical linked to health problems including liver damage and thyroid disease. Manganese and chloride in county wells also exceed safe levels--manganese can harm the nervous system, especially in children.
Wells in this county have extremely hard water combined with very high iron levels. You will see thick white scale buildup on fixtures, water heaters, and inside pipes. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of dishwashers and water heaters. Iron leaves orange and reddish-brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry that are hard to remove. Sulfate at elevated levels may cause a bitter or unpleasant taste.
We recommend testing your well because 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 water so it can be properly treated. Since multiple analytes exceed health standards here, a comprehensive metals and minerals panel is recommended and typically costs $200-400. Treatment options may include whole-house systems combining water softening with activated carbon filtration and arsenic-removal media.
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 | 33 | 85% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 31 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 33 | 24% | Moderate | High | |
| Fluoride | 25 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 27 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 32 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 28 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 27 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 28 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 34 | — | 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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