Groundwater in Lee County contains iron, manganese, sulfate, chloride, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at moderate to high concentrations that well owners should monitor and address.
These metals and salts come from the rock layers beneath Lee County and from human activities on the land above. Iron and manganese occur naturally when water passes through certain rocks underground. Sulfate and chloride can come from both natural mineral deposits in the bedrock and from agricultural or industrial use. Nitrate typically enters groundwater from fertilizers and septic systems.
Groundwater in Lee County is moderately hard and notably high in sodium and sulfate, the main minerals shaping its character. The moderate iron levels add to the mineral load. These minerals concentrate in the water as it moves slowly through the rock layers and picks up dissolved salts over time. Wells across this county show these characteristics commonly, though individual well water can vary.
Wells in Lee County commonly have chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Nitrate can harm infants and interfere with how blood carries oxygen. Manganese can affect the nervous system, especially in young children. Iron and chloride at high levels also pose health concerns over time. Testing your well is the first step to understanding what you're dealing with.
The minerals in county well water create visible and annoying problems around your home. Iron stains clothes and bathroom fixtures orange or brown, and manganese leaves dark stains. The water may taste salty or smell like rotten eggs from sulfate. Hard water leaves scale inside pipes and on fixtures, and it can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers.
We recommend testing your well water because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive panel that checks for metals and minerals costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know exactly what needs treatment. Depending on what you find, options like iron filters or reverse osmosis systems can help.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 153 | 20% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 101 | 20% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 43 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 43 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 46 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 74 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 239 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 74 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 41 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 20 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 42 | — | 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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