Iron, fluoride, and chloride are present in King William County's groundwater. These contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
These contaminants come from the underground sediment and rock layers that make up the aquifer system. Iron dissolves naturally as water moves through sandy and clay layers. Fluoride occurs naturally in some sediment zones. Chloride can enter from saltwater moving inland or from historical land use practices in this coastal plain region.
Groundwater in this county is soft, with sodium being the main dissolved mineral that stands out. Sodium accumulates in water as it travels through the sandy and clay sediments of the coastal plain. Elevated sodium levels are common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in King William County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, fluoride, and iron. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with high blood pressure or heart disease, and it affects those who need to restrict salt intake for medical reasons. Fluoride above recommended levels during childhood can cause dental fluorosis, which creates white spots or streaks on teeth. Iron above health standards poses risks to people with certain blood disorders who absorb too much iron from drinking water.
The high sodium content in county well water is the main quality-of-life concern for residents. Sodium doesn't taste salty at these levels, but it matters for people on sodium-restricted diets prescribed by their doctor. The water in this county is soft, so you won't experience the hard water problems like scale buildup or shortened appliance lifespan that affect other areas.
We recommend testing your well water, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel will show you exactly what contaminants are in your water so you can decide on proper treatment. Testing for this panel runs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis filters or ion exchange systems can address multiple contaminants at once.
| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 50 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 72 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 81 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 72 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 59 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 72 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 48 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 67 | — | Moderate | 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.
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