Groundwater in York County contains radon, manganese, and PFOS, along with several other contaminants including chloride, iron, nitrate, PFOA, and sulfate that exceed EPA health standards. These elevated levels are a concern and require attention.
Radon forms naturally inside the fractured crystalline bedrock beneath the county as uranium in the rock breaks down. Iron and manganese dissolve directly from the minerals in this hard, dense rock as groundwater sits in contact with it underground. Road salt from winter highway treatments and natural mineral deposits contribute to chloride and sulfate. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that have contaminated some wells through land use.
Groundwater in this county is soft with moderate iron content. The crystalline bedrock releases iron as water moves slowly through fractures in the rock. These characteristics show up across many wells in York County.
Wells in York County commonly have elevated levels of chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, PFOA, PFOS, radon, and sulfate that exceed EPA health standards. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when breathed in from water. Nitrate harms infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to health problems including thyroid disease and kidney damage. Manganese can affect brain development in children. Iron and chloride at high levels can cause stomach upset and other health effects.
County wells show moderate iron levels, which can stain sinks, toilets, and laundry with orange-brown marks that are hard to remove. You may notice a metallic or unpleasant taste in your water. The water in this county is relatively soft, so scale buildup in pipes and appliances is not a major concern here.
Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. We recommend testing your well through a certified lab to find out exactly what is in your water so it can be treated properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel that includes radon testing costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like aeration systems and activated carbon filters can help remove many of 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 66 | 68% | Moderate | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 224 | 25% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 500 | 25% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 500 | 23% | High | High | |
| Iron | 228 | 19% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 215 | 12% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 240 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 236 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 493 | 0% | High | Safe | |
| Fluoride | 229 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 105 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 61 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 67 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 97 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 101 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 101 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 4* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 236 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 4* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 493 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 250 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 235 | — | High | 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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