Barnstable County, MA
These figures come from wells tested in Barnstable County, MA, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Barnstable County, MA (52 of 162 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Barnstable County, MA (89 of 166 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Barnstable County, MA (4 of 919 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Barnstable County, MA are typically soft (641 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. Massachusetts'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 | 32% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 52 of 162 |
| Median | 0.016525 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1948–2016 |
| Wells | 162 |
| Test results | 1,988 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (1,086) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 54% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 89 of 166 |
| Median | 0.064675 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1956–2016 |
| Wells | 166 |
| Test results | 1,818 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (1,029) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 7.0% |
| Median | 20.2 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1948–2023 |
| Wells | 641 |
| Test results | 1,395 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (641) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 0.4% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 4 of 919 |
| Median | 10 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1948–2023 |
| Wells | 919 |
| Test results | 3,038 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (919) |