Well Water in Forest County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Forest County contains iron, manganese, and radon that well owners should know about. Iron and manganese exceed EPA health standards, and radon does too, which means these contaminants reach concerning levels in this county's wells.

The Pennsylvanian rock layers beneath Forest County naturally contain iron and manganese minerals that dissolve into groundwater as water moves slowly through cracks and spaces in the stone. Radon comes from tiny amounts of uranium scattered throughout these same rock layers. These contaminants appear together because the groundwater sits in old, oxygen-poor conditions deep underground where minerals break down and release into the water.

Groundwater in this county is soft and not notably hard, but it is high in iron, which is the main mineral that stands out in Forest County wells. Iron dissolves from minerals in the dark shale and sandstone layers here as groundwater passes through them over time. Most wells across the county show elevated iron, making this a common characteristic in the area.

Wells in Forest County commonly exceed EPA health standards for iron, manganese, radon, and PFOA and PFOS. Manganese at elevated levels can harm brain development and function over time. Iron itself does not cause direct health risks, but radon is a radioactive gas that increases cancer risk when present in drinking water. PFOA and PFOS are synthetic chemicals that can build up in your body and may affect health with long-term exposure.

Wells in this county show very high iron levels that cause orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may also notice a metallic taste in the water. The good news is that the water is relatively soft, so you should not see heavy white scale buildup on pipes and fixtures like you would in harder-water areas.

We recommend testing your well water through a certified lab, since 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. Because several analytes exceed health standards, a comprehensive metals and radon panel typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like aeration systems for iron removal and radon mitigation can address these concerns.