Sonoma County, CA
These figures come from wells tested in Sonoma County, CA, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Sonoma County, CA (14 of 65 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Sonoma County, CA (29 of 64 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Sonoma County, CA (3 of 74 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Sonoma County, CA are typically hard (74 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)
- hardness
- sulfate
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 | 22% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 14 of 65 |
| Median | 0.0161 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1971–2022 |
| Wells | 65 |
| Test results | 228 |
| Wells left out | 65 |
| Sources | USGS (75) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 45% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 29 of 64 |
| Median | 0.0294 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1981–2022 |
| Wells | 64 |
| Test results | 96 |
| Wells left out | 64 |
| Sources | USGS (65) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 27% |
| Median | 127.025 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1950–2022 |
| Wells | 74 |
| Test results | 233 |
| Wells left out | 66 |
| Sources | USGS (74) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 4.1% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 74 |
| Median | 18.9363 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1971–2022 |
| Wells | 74 |
| Test results | 227 |
| Wells left out | 66 |
| Sources | USGS (74) |