Mathews County, VA
These figures come from wells tested in Mathews County, VA, not from any one well.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Mathews County, VA (2 of 11 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Wells in Mathews County, VA are typically very hard (11 wells tested).
- Too few wells have been tested in Mathews County, VA (7 to 9 each) to say how common iron or manganese is.
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- iron
- manganese
- hardness
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. Virginia'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 Too few
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 78% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 7 of 9 |
| Median | 0.94 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1979–2018 |
| Wells | 9 |
| Test results | 10 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (8), 21VASWCB (1) |
Fewer than 10 wells behind this figure; treat it as a hint, not a prior.
Manganese Too few
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 57% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 4 of 7 |
| Median | 0.0894 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1998–2018 |
| Wells | 7 |
| Test results | 7 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (6), 21VASWCB (1) |
Fewer than 10 wells behind this figure; treat it as a hint, not a prior.
Hardness Older tests
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 64% |
| Median | 280 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1918–2018 |
| Wells | 11 |
| Test results | 13 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (10), 21VASWCB (1) |
Sulfate Older tests
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 18% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 11 |
| Median | 36 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1918–2018 |
| Wells | 11 |
| Test results | 13 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (10), 21VASWCB (1) |