Well Water in Orange County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Orange County contains iron, manganese, and nitrite at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Well owners should treat these contaminants before using their water.

Iron and manganese come from the rock beneath your property. The Early Mesozoic basin rocks in this area naturally release these metals into groundwater over time. Nitrite typically enters from septic systems or agricultural activity in the soil above, seeping down to reach wells.

Groundwater in this county is notably high in iron, which drives much of its character. Iron concentrates here because the basin rocks naturally contain iron minerals that dissolve slowly into water as it flows through the ground. Most wells in Orange County show detectable iron in their water.

Wells in Orange County commonly have iron, manganese, and nitrite at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron and manganese can cause problems with your blood and organs if you drink water with too much of them for a long time. Nitrite is especially dangerous for babies and can prevent their blood from carrying oxygen properly, which is a serious health risk.

The high iron in county wells creates orange or brown stains on your sinks, toilets, and laundry that are hard to remove. You may notice a metallic taste in your water and rusty-colored buildup in pipes and fixtures. The water in this county is soft, so you won't have scale problems, but the iron staining is a real quality-of-life issue that affects your home.

We recommend getting your well tested with a comprehensive panel to find out exactly what is in your water, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to know what you are actually drinking and what needs treatment. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. Iron and manganese can be removed with oxidation filters or water softeners designed for these metals.