Well Water in Luzerne County: What to Test and Why

Your well water in Luzerne County comes from old rock layers called Mississippian rock. This rock sits deep underground and has cracks and small spaces where water collects and flows. Wells tap into these spaces to bring water up to your house.

Arsenic, manganese, and radon appear naturally in this rock. As groundwater moves slowly through the Mississippian rock over many years, it dissolves these minerals and gases out of the stone. Radon is a radioactive gas that forms in the rock itself. Sulfate comes from minerals within the same rock layers.

Your water is very hard and salty. This water leaves white crusty scale on fixtures and in pipes. The high sodium and sulfate levels also affect how the water tastes and can cause digestive issues for people on restricted diets.

Arsenic, manganese, and radon in Luzerne County well water all exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic is the most urgent concern for your family's health. Radon and manganese also show up at levels that warrant immediate testing. These three contaminants together make getting your water tested essential.

Long-term exposure to arsenic increases cancer risk and harms the kidneys and digestive system. Manganese at high levels can affect brain development in children and cause neurological problems in adults. Radon in water releases a radioactive gas into your home that increases lung cancer risk over time. The mineral content also makes your water extremely hard, causing thick white scale buildup on fixtures and reducing the lifespan of appliances.

Get your well tested by a certified lab right away. A basic bacteria and nitrate screen runs fifty to one hundred dollars, but you need a comprehensive metals panel covering arsenic, manganese, radon, and sulfate, which typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. An aeration system can remove radon from water at the point where it enters your home.