Jones County groundwater contains fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, uranium, and PFOA and PFOS compounds that exceed EPA health standards. These contamination levels are concerning enough that well owners should test their water and know what is in it.
The contaminants come from different sources in this region. Uranium, fluoride, and iron occur naturally in the rock and soil here. Nitrate and the PFOS and PFOA compounds enter groundwater from human activities like agriculture, septic systems, and industrial use or past disposal sites.
Iron is the main mineral character of groundwater in this county, present at moderate levels from the local rock. The bedrock and soil naturally release iron into water that passes through them. Many wells in Jones County show iron at these kinds of levels.
Wells in Jones County show elevated levels of fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and several harmful chemicals called PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS. Fluoride at high levels can damage children's teeth and bones. Iron and manganese can cause nervous system problems with long-term exposure. Nitrate is dangerous for babies and can affect how blood carries oxygen. The PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS chemicals build up in your body over time and have been linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune system problems. Uranium in well water increases your cancer risk.
Iron in county wells causes orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in your water or see rust-colored particles. These stains are hard to remove and get worse over time.
We recommend getting your well tested with a comprehensive panel to see exactly what is in your water, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to know what needs to be treated. A comprehensive test runs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis, activated carbon filters, or ion exchange can remove these contaminants depending on what your test shows.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 16 | 75% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 7 | 71% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 16 | 69% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 16 | 56% | Moderate | High | |
| Uranium | 6 | 17% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 48 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 26 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 964 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 16 | — | 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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