Manganese and radon are present in Louisa County's groundwater at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic is also detected but at levels below the health standard, so it requires less immediate concern.
Manganese and radon come from the crystalline bedrock beneath the county--they dissolve naturally from the minerals in the stone as water moves through cracks and spaces underground. Arsenic enters groundwater the same way, released slowly from minerals in the rock itself.
Louisa County's groundwater is soft and low in minerals overall, which means calcium and magnesium are not concentrated here. The crystalline rocks that make up the aquifer do not dissolve easily like limestone does, so they do not add hardness to the water. Iron sits at moderate levels across many wells in the county, coming from these same bedrock minerals, but overall the water stays relatively plain in character.
Manganese and radon are the main contaminants found at concerning levels in wells across Louisa County. Manganese can damage your nervous system and brain function over time, especially in children. Radon is a radioactive gas that enters groundwater from natural sources in the rock and increases your risk of lung cancer when you breathe it in or ingest it over many years.
The good news is that Louisa County's wells are soft, so you should not experience heavy scaling or buildup in your pipes and appliances. You may notice some orange or brown staining from iron in your water, and water might have a slightly metallic taste, but these are minor quality-of-life concerns compared to the health issues above.
Since 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 water so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs two to four hundred dollars and will tell you exactly what you are dealing with. Treatment options like aeration for radon and filtration for manganese are available once you know your well's profile.
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 | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Radon | 4 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Iron | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 5 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 5 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 5 | — | 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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