Well Water in Colonial Heights city: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Colonial Heights contains iron and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concentrations high enough that well owners should take action to address them.

Iron and manganese dissolve into groundwater as it moves through the sandy and clay layers beneath Colonial Heights. These minerals are natural parts of the rock and soil in this region, and as water sits underground, it picks them up over time. The conditions in the aquifer here favor the release of these metals into the water supply.

Groundwater in Colonial Heights is notably high in iron, which is the primary mineral character of the water. The sandy and clay layers of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer naturally contain iron-rich minerals that dissolve slowly into passing groundwater. Wells across this city commonly show elevated iron levels like the ones detected here.

Wells in Colonial Heights commonly have elevated iron and manganese levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron in drinking water can cause problems with your blood's ability to carry oxygen, and manganese affects how your nervous system works. Children are especially at risk from manganese exposure during the years when their brains are developing.

Iron in county wells creates orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. It can make your water taste metallic or leave sediment at the bottom of glasses. Manganese causes similar staining and can turn water dark or cloudy. The good news is that wells here are soft, so you won't deal with the scale buildup and shortened appliance lifespans that hard water causes.

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. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be treated properly. A comprehensive metals panel runs about two hundred to four hundred dollars and will show exactly what you're dealing with. Iron and manganese can be removed with water filters, oxidation systems, or other treatment methods depending on the levels found.