Jackson County, OR
These figures come from wells tested in Jackson County, OR, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Jackson County, OR (27 of 140 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Jackson County, OR (16 of 140 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Jackson County, OR (5 of 301 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Jackson County, OR are typically hard (367 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. Oregon'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 | 19% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 27 of 140 |
| Median | < 0.05 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1945–2022 |
| Wells | 140 |
| Test results | 350 |
| Wells left out | 34 |
| Sources | OREGONDEQ (186), USGS (126) |
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 | 11% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 16 of 140 |
| Median | < 0.01 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1951–2022 |
| Wells | 140 |
| Test results | 272 |
| Wells left out | 33 |
| Sources | OREGONDEQ (186), USGS (49) |
More than half the wells had results below the lab's detection limit, so the median is reported as below that limit.
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 47% |
| Median | 170 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1934–2022 |
| Wells | 367 |
| Test results | 495 |
| Wells left out | 34 |
| Sources | OREGONDEQ (186), USGS (181) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 1.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 5 of 301 |
| Median | 17 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1934–2022 |
| Wells | 301 |
| Test results | 334 |
| Wells left out | 34 |
| Sources | USGS (152), OREGONDEQ (149) |