Groundwater in Clay County contains nitrate, iron, and arsenic. Iron and nitrate exceed EPA health standards in this county's water, so well owners should test their wells to understand their individual water quality.
Nitrate enters the groundwater from fertilizers and septic systems in areas with farming and rural development. Iron and arsenic occur naturally in the rock layers beneath Clay County. The other rock types that make up the local aquifer weather over time and release these metals into the water that flows through them.
Groundwater in this county shows elevated iron from the natural rock composition. The rock beneath Clay County contains iron-bearing minerals that dissolve as water passes through, releasing iron into the wells. These characteristics appear across many wells in the county, though each well's water chemistry differs based on its depth and location.
Wells in Clay County commonly have iron and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Nitrate in drinking water poses particular health concerns for infants and can affect how the body carries oxygen. Elevated iron itself does not pose a direct health risk at the levels found here, but it indicates groundwater conditions that warrant attention.
Iron in county well water creates visible staining on fixtures, laundry, and surfaces. Water may have a metallic taste or reddish tint. These cosmetic issues can be frustrating to deal with over time, though they are primarily quality-of-life concerns rather than health dangers.
We recommend having your well tested, since every well in this county is different and yours may have higher or lower contamination than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars and can identify all the contaminants present. Depending on your results, treatment systems like iron filters or nitrate removal can address these specific issues.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 13 | 31% | Low | High | |
| Iron | 36 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 112 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 21 | 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 ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | 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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