Potter County groundwater contains radon, manganese, iron, arsenic, chloride, and PFOA and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant concentrations are concerning and warrant testing and potential treatment.
The rock beneath Potter County naturally releases these contaminants into groundwater. Radon seeps from uranium that decays in the Mississippian rock layers. Iron and manganese dissolve into water as it moves slowly through the fractured bedrock where oxygen is low. Arsenic and chloride come from the rock itself and from road salt applied to county roads that seeps down into the aquifer. PFOA and PFOS are industrial compounds that have contaminated some wells through separate pollution pathways.
Groundwater in Potter County is soft, with moderate iron being the main aesthetic characteristic. Iron dissolves naturally from the rock layers as water sits in contact with them. Most wells across the county show this moderate iron presence, though individual wells may vary.
Wells in Potter County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, radon, chloride, iron, and manganese, with smaller amounts of PFOA and PFOS detected. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and increases cancer risk. Radon is a radioactive gas that raises lung cancer risk when breathed in from water. Chloride at high levels harms people with heart disease or high blood pressure. Manganese can affect brain development, especially in children.
Iron causes orange-brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. The county's water is relatively soft, so scale buildup from hardness is not a major concern.
We recommend testing your well water with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to see 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 needs treatment. Treatment options like radon aeration systems, iron filters, and activated carbon can address these specific 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 48 | 81% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 115 | 19% | High | High | |
| Iron | 120 | 17% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 49 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 49 | 12% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 119 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 126 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 115 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 115 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 120 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 115 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 118 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 59 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 46* | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 79 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 36 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 127 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 116 | — | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 46* | 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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