Well Water Problems
Start with the problem you are experiencing. Each guide covers what causes it, what your test results mean, health implications, and the specific treatment systems that solve it.
Iron in Well Water
Orange stains, metallic taste, and rusty laundry. The most common well water contaminant. Learn what your iron level means and which filter type matches your concentration.
Sulfur Smell in Well Water
Rotten egg smell from hydrogen sulfide gas. Could be from sulfur-reducing bacteria or your water heater anode rod. Find the source, then fix it.
Hard Water from Wells
Scale buildup, soap scum, dry skin, and shortened appliance life. 85% of well water is hard. The right softener pays for itself in saved energy and soap.
Arsenic in Well Water
Odorless, tasteless, and found naturally in bedrock across the U.S. Testing is the only way to know. EPA MCL: 10 ppb.
Bacteria & Coliform in Wells
Total coliform or E. coli in your test means a contamination pathway exists. Shock chlorination may be a one-time fix. Persistent bacteria needs UV disinfection.
Manganese in Well Water
Black or brown staining on fixtures and laundry. Often found alongside iron. EPA health advisory at 0.3 ppm — more concerning than most homeowners realize.
Nitrates in Well Water
From fertilizers, septic systems, and animal waste. Dangerous for infants (blue baby syndrome). EPA MCL: 10 ppm. Reverse osmosis is the standard fix.
Lead
Lead leaches from old plumbing, solder, and brass fittings rather than the aquifer. There is no safe level, and it is invisible and tasteless. Testing is the only way to know.
PFAS
"Forever chemicals" from firefighting foam, industrial sites, and landfills. They do not break down and standard filters do not touch them. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon is required.
Radon
A radioactive gas that enters through the aquifer and off-gasses at the tap and shower. Common in granite regions. Aeration or granular activated carbon removes it.
Tannins
Yellow or tea-coloured water from decaying vegetation. Harmless but stains laundry and fixtures, and it defeats softeners unless treated first.
Uranium
Naturally occurring in granite and shale aquifers. Odourless and tasteless, and a kidney risk at elevated levels. Reverse osmosis or anion exchange removes it.
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds from fuel tanks, dry cleaners, and industrial spills. Often detectable by smell. Activated carbon is the standard treatment.
Sediment & Turbidity
Sand, silt, clay, or rust particles making your water cloudy. Often indicates well casing issues. A sediment pre-filter protects all downstream equipment.
Low pH / Acidic Well Water
Blue-green stains on fixtures from corroded copper pipes. Low pH eats plumbing. An acid neutralizer raises pH to a safe, non-corrosive level.
Fluoride in Well Water
Naturally occurring at variable levels in groundwater. Beneficial in small amounts, harmful in excess. EPA MCL: 4.0 ppm. Activated alumina or RO removes it.