Groundwater in Racine County contains iron, sulfate, and manganese that well owners should be aware of. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, including arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate--a serious situation requiring attention.
The bedrock beneath Racine County naturally releases these metals into groundwater. Iron and manganese dissolve from the rock as water sits in low-oxygen spaces deep underground. Sulfate and chloride leach from minerals in the stone, and chloride also enters from road salt applied during winter maintenance.
Groundwater in this county is very hard and high in iron, driven by calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese from the bedrock below. As water moves slowly through the rock layers, these minerals accumulate in the water. These characteristics are common across wells throughout the county.
Arsenic, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate all exceed EPA health standards in wells throughout Racine County. Arsenic is colorless and odorless, so you cannot detect it without testing--long-term exposure can damage organs and increase cancer risk. Iron and manganese at elevated levels can harm brain development, especially in children. Chloride and sulfate at high levels can cause digestive problems.
Wells in this county have extremely hard water, which means scale will build up fast inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers, shortening their lifespan. You will likely see rust-colored stains on sinks, tubs, and laundry. The water may taste metallic or bitter. Hard water also makes soap less effective for cleaning.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since multiple contaminants exceed standards here. 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 it can be properly treated. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400. Treatment options include systems combining arsenic removal, iron filters, and water softening.
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 | 83 | 53% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 75 | 16% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 69 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 78 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 59 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 55 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 83 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 40 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 86 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 62 | — | 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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