Manganese, fluoride, and iron are the contaminants present in Franklin's groundwater that deserve your attention. These three exceed EPA health standards, making them a concern for your household water supply.
The rock layers beneath Franklin naturally contain iron and manganese. As groundwater moves slowly through sand and clay, water dissolves these metals from the rock. Fluoride enters the water from the same underground layers. This combination is common across the coastal plain aquifer system that supplies this area.
Groundwater in Franklin is soft and high in sodium, driven by elevated sodium concentration from the surrounding sand and clay layers. As water permeates through these sediments over time, sodium dissolves into the water. Wells throughout Franklin show these characteristics, though individual wells vary in their exact levels.
Wells in Franklin city have fluoride, iron, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Fluoride at high levels can cause dental fluorosis, which damages tooth enamel and creates white spots or streaks on teeth. Iron and manganese can harm your brain and nervous system, especially in children and babies. These health risks are serious and require attention.
County well water here has high sodium content, which is a concern for people watching their salt intake or managing certain health conditions. The water is soft, so you won't see much mineral scale buildup. However, the elevated iron can stain your sinks, toilets, and laundry with reddish-brown marks and create a metallic taste.
We recommend getting a comprehensive water test right away since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Your well may have different levels than what is common in Franklin city, and testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A full metals and minerals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Iron and manganese can be removed with filtration or oxidation systems designed for your specific levels.
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 | 5 | 40% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 8 | 12% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 8 | 12% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 6 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 7 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 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.
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