Groundwater in Wood County contains manganese, iron, and PFOS, along with chloride, nitrate, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels warrant attention from well owners in this area.
The rock layers beneath Wood County naturally release iron and manganese into the water as it moves slowly underground. Chloride enters from road salt and other surface sources, while nitrate comes from fertilizer use on land. PFOS and related chemicals likely enter from industrial or commercial activities in the region.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard, driven by elevated iron and moderate calcium and magnesium from the bedrock. The mixed rock composition here naturally concentrates iron as water passes through over time. Iron at these levels is common across many wells in Wood County.
Wells in Wood County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, and PFOA/PFOS chemicals. Manganese and nitrate can harm your nervous system and kidneys with long-term exposure. Chloride can damage your kidneys and heart over time. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to serious health problems including cancer and liver damage. Iron and nitrate also pose health risks at elevated levels.
The moderately hard water in this county leaves orange or brown stains on fixtures and laundry. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. Hard water reduces how well soap works for cleaning and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers by causing scale buildup inside them.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. Every well in the county is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. Iron removal systems and water softeners can 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 | 68 | 76% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 177 | 53% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 15 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 64 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Sulfate | 72 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 180 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Arsenic | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 41 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Lead | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 180 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 56 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 180 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 15 | — | 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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