Groundwater in Clarion County contains manganese, iron, sulfate, arsenic, chloride, lead, nitrate, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, and radon. Many of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards at concerning levels.
These contaminants come from the Pennsylvanian rock layers beneath the county. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks in shale and sandstone, manganese and iron dissolve naturally from the rock. Sulfate, chloride, and radon seep into the water from minerals and uranium scattered throughout these rock formations. Some contaminants like nitrate, lead, and PFOA also enter from human sources on the land surface.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, loaded with iron and sulfate that define its character. Iron dissolves from the shale and sandstone, while sulfate concentrations build as water contacts sulfur-bearing minerals in the rock layers. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout Clarion County, though individual wells vary in how much of each mineral they contain.
Wells in Clarion County commonly contain arsenic, lead, chloride, nitrate, radon, and PFOA and PFOS at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead damage the brain and kidneys, especially in children. Nitrate reduces how well blood carries oxygen. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that can affect the immune system and liver.
The mineral content in county wells creates noticeable quality-of-life problems. Iron stains sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown. Sulfate and chloride make the water taste bitter or salty. The water is extremely hard, leaving thick scale buildup on pipes, faucets, and inside kettles and water heaters. Over time, this extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of appliances like water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well water through a certified lab 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 well so it can be properly treated. Since multiple analytes exceed health standards, a comprehensive metals and radon panel is recommended and typically costs $200-400. 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 2185 | 97% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 2120 | 92% | High | High | |
| Iron | 2184 | 88% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 1114 | 33% | High | High | |
| Radon | 7 | 14% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 38 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 38 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 1588 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 453 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 1642 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 1673 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 1134 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1618 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 2212 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 32 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 2168 | — | 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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