Well Water in Calumet County: What to Test and Why

Groundwater in Calumet County contains chloride, sulfate, and arsenic. Chloride and sulfate levels exceed EPA health standards, which is a concern that warrants testing and possible treatment.

Chloride and sulfate dissolve naturally from the deep rock layers beneath this county. The Cambrian-Ordovician stone that supplies most wells naturally contains these minerals. As water moves slowly through the rock over time, it picks up these dissolved salts.

Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium that come from the limestone and other carbonate rock below. Water moving through carbonate rock dissolves these minerals easily, which is why hardness is so widespread here. Nearly all wells in the county show this characteristic.

Chloride and sulfate exceed EPA health standards in Calumet County wells. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with certain heart and kidney conditions, and it can raise blood pressure in some individuals. Sulfate can cause digestive problems, especially for young children and people with sensitive systems.

Calumet County has very hard water, which creates practical problems around the home. You'll see white, crusty scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, and inside pipes and water heaters. This extreme hardness can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances. Hard water also makes soap less effective for cleaning and laundry.

We recommend testing your well water because 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 you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel runs between $200 and $400. Water softeners can address the hardness, and chloride-reduction filters are available for specific concerns.