Black Hawk County, IA
These figures come from wells tested in Black Hawk County, IA, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Black Hawk County, IA (2 of 11 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Black Hawk County, IA (2 of 11 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Black Hawk County, IA (3 of 82 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Black Hawk County, IA are typically very hard (78 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. Iowa'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 | 18% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 11 |
| Median | < DL mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1941–2017 |
| Wells | 11 |
| Test results | 244 |
| Wells left out | 12 |
| Sources | USGS (76) |
More than half the wells had results below the lab's detection limit, so the median is reported as below that limit.
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 18% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 11 |
| Median | 0.00028 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1944–2017 |
| Wells | 11 |
| Test results | 247 |
| Wells left out | 12 |
| Sources | USGS (76) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 100% |
| Median | 270 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1910–2017 |
| Wells | 78 |
| Test results | 252 |
| Wells left out | 12 |
| Sources | USGS (78) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 3.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 82 |
| Median | 41.8 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1910–2017 |
| Wells | 82 |
| Test results | 257 |
| Wells left out | 12 |
| Sources | USGS (82) |