Kern County, CA
These figures come from wells tested in Kern County, CA, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Kern County, CA (43 of 247 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Kern County, CA (74 of 214 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Kern County, CA (103 of 662 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Wells in Kern County, CA are typically hard (663 wells tested).
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- iron (common in wells here)
- manganese (common in wells here)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- hardness
Most well owners also test for these. We point to the source and don't interpret the results.
- arsenic: occurs naturally in groundwater in many regions. USGS: arsenic and drinking water
- nitrate: common near farmland and septic systems. EPA: private drinking water wells
- total coliform bacteria: the standard yearly well check. EPA: private drinking water wells
- lead and copper: from household plumbing, especially when pH is below 6.5. EPA: lead in drinking water
- PFAS: several states run private-well sampling programs. EPA: PFAS
- a certified lab: states certify labs and some run their own private-well programs. California's certified-lab list (from your state drinking-water program)
The numbers
County figures describe the wells sampled there, not any one well. Exact counts, sample years and sources are below.
Iron Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 17% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 43 of 247 |
| Median | 0.0142 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1917–2026 |
| Wells | 255 |
| Test results | 603 |
| Wells left out | 636 |
| Sources | USGS (373) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 35% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 74 of 214 |
| Median | 0.01245 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1952–2026 |
| Wells | 236 |
| Test results | 479 |
| Wells left out | 475 |
| Sources | USGS (282) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 37% |
| Median | 130 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1909–2026 |
| Wells | 663 |
| Test results | 1,039 |
| Wells left out | 997 |
| Sources | USGS (663) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 16% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 103 of 662 |
| Median | 53 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1909–2026 |
| Wells | 662 |
| Test results | 1,003 |
| Wells left out | 1,009 |
| Sources | USGS (662) |