Groundwater in Price County contains manganese, PFOA, and PFOS that well owners should know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, including iron and nitrate alongside the PFOA and PFOS detected here.
Manganese and iron come from the local rock itself as water moves slowly through it underground. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that enter groundwater from industrial or commercial sources and persist in the environment for a long time. Nitrate comes from fertilizer use or septic systems in the area.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The local geology naturally releases these minerals as water seeps through it over time. Hard water shows up across many wells in Price County.
Groundwater in Price County commonly contains iron, manganese, nitrate, PFOA, and PFOS at levels above EPA health standards. Iron and manganese can harm your nervous system and affect how your body uses oxygen over time. Nitrate is especially concerning for infants and can interfere with blood oxygen levels. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that accumulate in your body and have been linked to health problems with your immune system, liver, and kidneys.
The hard water in Price County wells can leave orange or brown stains on your clothes and bathroom fixtures that are tough to remove. You may notice a metallic taste in your water or see buildup on faucets and inside pipes. Hard water can also shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers by creating scale inside them.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so it can be properly treated. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel since multiple analytes exceed EPA standards in county wells. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. A comprehensive panel typically costs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like aeration systems for iron and manganese removal or activated carbon filters for PFOA and PFOS 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 15 | 27% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA | 11 | 9% | Low | Moderate | |
| PFOS | 11 | 9% | Low | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Iron | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 11 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Lead | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| PFNA | 11 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Sulfate | 16 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 16 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS | 11 | — | Low | Low | |
| pH | 29 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 9 | — | 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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