Groundwater in McKean County contains manganese, iron, and arsenic that well owners should know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These metals come naturally from the rock layers beneath the county. The Pennsylvanian-age shale and sandstone that make up the bedrock contain iron and manganese minerals that dissolve slowly into groundwater as water moves through cracks and spaces in the rock. Arsenic is also locked within certain dark rock layers. These contaminants appear together because of the low-oxygen conditions deep in the aquifer where water sits for long periods.
Groundwater in this county is soft, but it is notably high in iron. Iron dissolves from the surrounding bedrock as water passes through the rock layers. High iron levels are common across wells in McKean County.
Wells in McKean County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and radon at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over years and increases cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters water from rock beneath the ground and can harm your lungs if breathed in. Manganese at elevated levels can affect brain development in children. Chloride at high levels can affect kidney function and blood pressure over time.
The high iron in county wells causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. The water in this county is relatively soft, so you likely won't see crusty buildup from hard water scale.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out exactly what is in your water. Every well is different, and your well 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. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-$400, and treatment options like whole-house filtration systems or radon mitigation can remove these contaminants.
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 | 12 | 75% | Low | High | |
| Iron | 17 | 59% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 5 | 40% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Radon | 5 | 20% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 17 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Sodium | 13 | — | Low | Low | |
| pH | 12 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 17 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 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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