Groundwater in Upshur County contains manganese, chloride, iron, lead, and nitrate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and deserve attention.
The rock layers beneath this county naturally release manganese and iron as groundwater flows through them. Chloride and sodium come from the coastal uplands geology, where salty layers sit mixed with fresher rock. Nitrate sometimes enters from agricultural activities on the land above. Lead can come from natural rock sources and from old pipes in some wells.
Groundwater in this county is soft and high in sodium, driven by the mineral makeup of the coastal uplands below. As water moves slowly through these rock layers, it picks up sodium naturally. These characteristics show up across many wells in the area.
Wells in Upshur County commonly contain chloride, iron, lead, manganese, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Lead exposure harms children's development and can affect the brain and kidneys in people of all ages. Nitrate poses serious health risks for infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Manganese at elevated levels can damage the nervous system, especially in children. Chloride and iron in groundwater here also present health concerns that deserve attention.
The high sodium content in county well water can be a concern for people on sodium-restricted diets. While the water is relatively soft, the iron present can leave rust-colored stains on laundry, fixtures, and dishes. You may notice a metallic or salty taste in your water. These aesthetic issues, though not health threats, affect your daily quality of life and can damage plumbing over time.
Your well is unique, and your water may have higher or lower levels than what is common countywide. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your well so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, which typically costs $200-400. Iron filters, water softeners, or reverse osmosis systems can address multiple contaminants depending on what testing reveals.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 132 | 8% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 14 | 7% | Low | Moderate | |
| Iron | 213 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 26 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Lead | 67 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Arsenic | 68 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 252 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 14 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| pH | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 41 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sodium | 14 | — | Low | 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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