Groundwater in Caledonia County contains radon, iron, manganese, arsenic, lead, uranium, nitrate, and chloride. Several of these contaminants exceed federal health standards and should be treated seriously by well owners.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources in the local bedrock and land use. Radon, uranium, and arsenic occur naturally in the rock beneath the county. Iron and manganese seep into water from mineral-rich layers in the ground. Nitrate and chloride often come from road salt, septic systems, and agricultural activities on the surface.
Groundwater in Caledonia County is hard, driven by calcium and magnesium dissolved from the bedrock as water moves through it. The complex mix of rock types in this area creates conditions where these minerals accumulate in groundwater. Hard water is found in wells throughout the county.
Wells in Caledonia County commonly have arsenic, lead, uranium, and radon at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms children's brain development and learning ability. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk. Nitrate, chloride, and manganese also exceed standards in some county wells and can cause health problems, especially for infants and people with certain conditions.
County wells often have hard water, which leaves scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes. You may notice white crusty deposits on faucets and showerheads. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. It also makes soap less effective for cleaning and can leave your skin and hair feeling dry.
We recommend a comprehensive water test for metals, minerals, bacteria, and nitrate--the only way to know what is actually in your well. Testing costs between $200 and $400 for a full panel. Every well is different, so your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Once you know your results, a professional can recommend treatment like a water softener for hardness, or a reverse osmosis filter for arsenic and lead removal.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 240 | 98% | High | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 494 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| Manganese | 597 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 3532 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 1067 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 868 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 981 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 994 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 991 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 951 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Total Coliform | 1* | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 490 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 54 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 295 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | 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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