Well Water in Sullivan County: What to Test and Why

Your well pulls water from old rock layers formed hundreds of millions of years ago. These rocks are broken and cracked throughout Sullivan County. Water fills the tiny spaces and fractures in this rock, creating your water supply.

Radon comes from natural radioactive elements trapped in the old rock itself. As groundwater sits in contact with the rock over time, radon dissolves into the water. Iron and manganese also come from minerals inside the rock that dissolve as water moves slowly through cracks. Road salt from highways gets into some wells through these same fractures, bringing chloride and sodium down to the groundwater.

Your water is extremely hard, meaning it has picked up large amounts of minerals from the rock. The high levels of sodium, sulfate, and iron mean you will see heavy white scale buildup on pipes and fixtures, rust-colored stains on sinks and laundry, and a salty taste. Your water needs treatment to handle these mineral loads and remove radon before you drink it.

Radon, manganese, iron, and lead in Sullivan County wells exceed EPA health standards. Radon is the most serious concern. Your water also contains very high levels of chloride and sulfate. Testing your well is urgent because multiple dangerous contaminants are present in this area.

Long-term exposure to radon increases lung cancer risk. Manganese and lead harm the nervous system and brain development in children. The extreme iron, sulfate, and hardness will stain your sinks and toilets orange-brown and leave thick white scaling on pipes and fixtures. Your water will taste salty and bitter.

Get a comprehensive metals and minerals panel from a state-certified lab immediately, which costs $200–400. Your county extension office can refer you to certified labs. A whole-house treatment system with radon removal and arsenic filtration can address your water's most serious health risks.