Groundwater in Iron County contains manganese, iron, and chloride. Iron and manganese exceed EPA health standards, and chloride also exceeds its standard, making these contaminants a concern for well owners.
The Jacobsville sandstone aquifer beneath Iron County naturally contains iron and manganese minerals. As water seeps slowly through cracks in this rock layer, it dissolves these metals. Chloride enters the groundwater from road salt and other surface sources that work their way down into the aquifer.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of iron and calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rock. The sandstone here is iron-rich, and water moving through it picks up these minerals easily. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Chloride, iron, and manganese exceed EPA health standards in wells across Iron County. Chloride at elevated levels can damage your kidneys and raise blood pressure over time. Iron and manganese can harm brain development, especially in children, and affect how your nervous system works. These contaminants show up in county groundwater at levels that warrant attention for your family's health.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which creates real problems around your home. You will see orange-brown staining on laundry, dishes, and fixtures from high iron. Scale builds up on pipes and inside appliances like water heaters and dishwashers, shortening how long they last. The water may taste or smell metallic, and hard water makes soap less effective for cleaning.
We recommend a comprehensive water test to find out what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what you are dealing with so it can be properly treated. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs $200 to $400. Iron removal systems using aeration or ion exchange can help address multiple concerns at once.
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 | 24 | 62% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 23 | 52% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 32 | 28% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 6 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOA | 4 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOS | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 24 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 24 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 30 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 22 | — | 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.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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