Well Water in Montour County: What to Test and Why

Your well water comes from cracks and spaces in old rock formations made of sandstone and shale. These rocks are broken and fractured, which lets water move through them slowly underground. The rock layers have been pushed and tilted by ancient forces that shaped this valley and ridge landscape.

Radon seeps into the water from radioactive elements naturally trapped in the shale and sandstone. Arsenic and sulfate dissolve into groundwater as it passes through the rock for many years. The past coal mining in this region left behind materials that release extra sulfate when water contacts them. These contaminants come straight from the bedrock itself, not from surface pollution.

Your water is extremely hard and loaded with minerals, especially sulfate and sodium. This means you will see white crusty scale buildup on faucets and inside pipes. The water tastes bitter from the high sulfate content. Test your well for arsenic, radon, and sulfate right away.

Arsenic exceeds EPA health standards in Montour County well water and needs testing right away. Radon, iron, and sulfate also exceed their health limits. The combination of these contaminants makes your well water a concern for your family's health. This is not an emergency, but testing and possible treatment should happen soon.

Long-term exposure to arsenic increases the risk of cancer and other serious health problems. High iron will stain your sinks, toilets, and laundry orange-brown and leave rust-colored marks. The water is extremely hard and will build up white scale on faucets and inside pipes. Sulfate gives the water a bitter, unpleasant taste.

Get your well tested by a state-certified lab right now—a comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400 and will check for all these contaminants. A whole-house treatment system combining an arsenic filter with a water softener can address the main health and quality-of-life problems together.