Suffolk County, NY
These figures come from wells tested in Suffolk County, NY, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Suffolk County, NY (38 of 140 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Suffolk County, NY (51 of 120 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Suffolk County, NY (34 of 1536 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Suffolk County, NY are typically soft (1499 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. New York'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 | 27% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 38 of 140 |
| Median | 0.026525 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1919–2025 |
| Wells | 140 |
| Test results | 15,314 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | USGS (1,508), 11NPSWRD_WQX (14) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 42% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 51 of 120 |
| Median | 0.028675 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1919–2025 |
| Wells | 120 |
| Test results | 14,244 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | USGS (1,479) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 4.7% |
| Median | 31 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1919–2025 |
| Wells | 1,499 |
| Test results | 12,560 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | USGS (1,485), 11NPSWRD_WQX (14) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 2.2% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 34 of 1536 |
| Median | 9.765 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1919–2025 |
| Wells | 1,536 |
| Test results | 11,312 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | USGS (1,536) |