Groundwater in Marinette County contains iron, manganese, and arsenic that well owners should be aware of. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant testing and treatment.
Iron, manganese, and arsenic come from the bedrock itself. As groundwater moves slowly through cracks and spaces in these mixed rock layers, these metals dissolve naturally into the water. The geology here simply produces these three contaminants.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The same mineral-rich formations that release iron and manganese also contribute to the hardness. Hard water is extremely common across wells in Marinette County.
Wells in Marinette County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate. Arsenic is a poison that builds up in your body over time and can cause skin problems, heart disease, and cancer. Chloride at high levels can harm people with certain health conditions. Iron and manganese are metals that can affect your health with long-term exposure, and manganese is especially concerning for children's brain development. Sulfate in drinking water can cause digestive problems.
The water in Marinette County is extremely hard, which means white scale will build up on your pipes, fixtures, and inside appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. This buildup can shorten the lifespan of these appliances. You may also notice orange or rust-colored stains from iron, a metallic taste or smell, and difficulty getting soap to lather.
We recommend testing your well water through a certified lab. Every well is different, and your well may 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. Because multiple analytes exceed standards, a comprehensive metals and minerals panel is recommended, which typically costs $200-400. Water softeners and aeration systems can help address these concerns.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 65 | 35% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 63 | 25% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 20 | 25% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 65 | 15% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 66 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 65 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 61 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 43 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Radon | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 67 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 20 | — | Moderate | Safe | |
| pH | 69 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 61 | — | 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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