Groundwater in Beaver County contains radon, iron, and manganese as the top contaminants that well owners should know about. Multiple analytes exceed EPA health standards here, including arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, PFHXS, PFOA, PFOS, sulfate, and radon--making this a serious situation that demands attention.
These contaminants come from the coal-bearing shale and sandstone rock beneath the county. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in these layers, it dissolves iron and manganese naturally. Radon seeps in from trace uranium in the rock. Road salt and old brine from past mining add chloride and sodium to the water. Low-oxygen conditions deep underground speed up the release of these metals into wells.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and high in iron, driven by elevated iron, calcium, and magnesium from the bedrock below. The slow movement of water through the dense rock layers allows these minerals to accumulate. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout Beaver County.
Beaver County wells commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, radon, and several industrial chemicals called PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and can damage organs and increase cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps into water from rock and raises lung cancer risk. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS are human-made chemicals linked to liver damage, immune problems, and cancer with long-term exposure.
County wells also show high levels of manganese and iron alongside very hard water. Manganese can harm brain development and the nervous system. Iron causes orange-brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry that are hard to remove. Very hard water leaves white scale buildup on pipes and appliances and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The water may taste metallic or salty from elevated sodium and sulfate.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which runs $200-400, since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well is different--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. Water softeners combined with aeration and filtration systems can address 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 49 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 32 | 41% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 10 | 30% | Low | High | |
| Chloride | 61 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 60 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 175 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 175 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 44 | 9% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 44 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrate | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 141 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 38 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 60 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 54 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 141 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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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