Groundwater in Clinton County contains radon, manganese, and iron, with several contaminants exceeding EPA health standards including arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and radon. These are levels serious enough to require attention.
The Pennsylvanian rock layers beneath Clinton County naturally release radon gas and dissolve metals like iron and manganese as groundwater moves slowly through fractured bedrock. Nitrate and chloride can come from both natural sources in the rock and from land use like agriculture and road salt application. The low-oxygen conditions deep in these older rocks make it easier for metals to dissolve into the water.
Groundwater in Clinton County is moderately hard, driven by iron and moderate hardness from calcium and magnesium in the surrounding rock. As water sits in contact with the Pennsylvanian shale and coal-bearing layers, it picks up these minerals naturally. Most wells in the county show these water characteristics.
Wells in Clinton County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and radon at levels exceeding EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and increases cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters your lungs when you breathe air released from water during showers and cooking. Nitrate harms infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Manganese can affect brain development and nervous system function with long-term exposure.
County well water is moderately hard, which means you may see white or tan scale buildup on pipes and fixtures. Iron causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be treated properly. Since multiple contaminants exceed health standards, we recommend a comprehensive metals and radon panel, which typically costs $200-400. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Treatment options like whole-house filtration systems combined with aeration can address multiple contaminants at once.
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 | 64 | 59% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 100 | 25% | High | High | |
| Iron | 104 | 23% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 115 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 103 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 105 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 101 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 98 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 109 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 103 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 70 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 56* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 102 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 118 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 39 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 104 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 56* | 0% | 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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