Groundwater in Charles City County contains radon, iron, and arsenic. Iron and radon exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention, while arsenic is detected but at levels below the standard.
These contaminants come from natural sources in the rock and soil beneath the county. Iron leaches into water as it moves through sandy and clay layers in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer. Radon forms from the radioactive decay of uranium in the bedrock and soil. Arsenic occurs naturally in sediments and rock in this region.
Groundwater in this county is soft with elevated sodium as the notable mineral character. The sandy coastal plain geology here does not produce hard water, and sodium concentrations reflect the natural mineral composition of these sediments. Soft water with elevated sodium is common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Charles City County contain iron and radon at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron itself is not a health risk at the levels found here, but radon is a radioactive gas that can increase the risk of lung cancer over time when inhaled. Arsenic is also a concern in some county wells and can cause serious health problems with long-term exposure.
County well water tends to be soft, which is good news for scale buildup in pipes and appliances. However, the sodium levels in this area are elevated, which means people watching their salt intake should be aware. Some wells show iron, which can leave orange or brown stains on fixtures and laundry, though at the moderate levels common here this is usually just a cosmetic issue.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants are a concern in this county. Every well is different, and your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can decide if treatment is needed. A comprehensive panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars and can identify all the contaminants present.
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 | 2 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 26 | 27% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 42 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 42 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Manganese | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 42 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | 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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