Groundwater in Menard County contains radon, nitrate, iron, fluoride, and manganese. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, so well owners should test their water and consider treatment options where levels are high.
These contaminants come from natural sources in the rock below. Radon seeps from uranium in the bedrock, while iron and manganese dissolve from minerals in the surrounding stone. Nitrate can come from soil and septic systems above ground. Fluoride occurs naturally in the local rocks.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium dissolved from the limestone and other rocks below the surface. The hard minerals accumulate because water percolates slowly through calcium-rich stone layers underground. Very hard water is common across wells throughout Menard County.
Wells in Menard County commonly have fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and radon at levels above EPA health standards. Fluoride at elevated levels can cause dental fluorosis, which makes teeth discolored or spotted. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters water from rocks underground and increases the risk of lung cancer when breathed in. Nitrate can harm infants and reduce how well their blood carries oxygen. Manganese at high levels may affect the nervous system over time.
The very hard water in county wells creates noticeable household problems. Scale builds up inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, and extremely hard water shortens the lifespan of these appliances. You may see rust stains on fixtures and laundry from iron in the water. Sulfate in the water can give it a bitter taste.
We recommend testing your well water to find out what is actually in it, since every well is different and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. A comprehensive panel that tests for metals, minerals, bacteria, and nitrate runs between $200 and $400 and is the best way to understand your specific situation. Once you know what is in your well, a water softener can handle hardness, and aeration or filtration systems can treat iron and radon.
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 | 1 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 28 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 52 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 45 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 591 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 39 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 3 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 1 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | 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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