If you have noticed unusual taste or simply wonder about the safety of your household water, arsenic is a concern often considered. In Connecticut's FIPS 110 aquifer area, government sampling provides important insights though it cannot define your own well water condition.
Belief: Water at the Tap Has Arsenic at the Same Level as the Aquifer Samples
Water quality at your tap will differ from government measurements in sampled wells of the aquifer. USGS sampled 24 wells from 2011 through 2017 in the FIPS 110, aquifer 112DFSF, finding arsenic present in most samples but at levels ranging from 0.06 to 1.8 micrograms per liter with a median of 0.19 micrograms per liter. These samples were taken at depths between 10 and 155 feet. Your water's arsenic level could be above, below, or within this range but only direct testing can determine it. The findings come from area-wide sampling, not individual household wells.
Belief: Arsenic Levels Increase with Depth of Well or Source
Depth does influence what you might expect in arsenic concentrations, but it is not a simple rule. Samples here span shallow to deeper wells, showing some variability but no direct correlation that deeper always means more arsenic. Multiple geologic and hydrological factors affect arsenic presence. Understanding your well’s depth and location relative to these samples can guide but not conclude your own arsenic condition.
Belief: Cloudy Water or Corrosion Signs Indicate High Arsenic
Aesthetic or mechanical water symptoms such as cloudiness, rust stains, or corrosion do not reliably indicate arsenic presence. Arsenic is a colorless, tasteless element and does not cause visible water changes. If you see staining or odor, those are usually linked to other water components. Proper arsenic testing is essential rather than relying on symptom assumptions.
Belief: The Median and Range of Arsenic Concentrations Define Risk for My Household
The median of 0.19 micrograms per liter and range from 0.06 to 1.8 micrograms per liter represent the central tendency and spread of arsenic values in sampled wells but do not establish safety or risk for your own water. None of these samples exceeded the US federal arsenic maximum contaminant level set for public water systems, indicating that in this broad area no federal limit was surpassed. This record helps frame expectations but does not guarantee your well water conditions.
Belief: Plumbing Materials and Age Affect Arsenic Presence
Plumbing components in your home do not add arsenic to your water. Unlike metals such as lead or copper, arsenic originates from natural deposits or contamination sources in the aquifer or soil. Materials and plumbing age can influence other water quality features, but arsenic levels depend on the source water entering your system.
Belief: Arsenic Can Be Removed by Any Standard Filtration
Arsenic requires specific treatment technologies for effective reduction. The Fleck Arsenic Filter employs a specialized system designed to reduce arsenic from household water supplies. It ships ready to configure and can be directly purchased for home water treatment to lower arsenic concentrations according to documented performance.
To resolve uncertainties about your water, the essential step is to have your water tested by a certified laboratory for arsenic concentration. This single test will reveal your household’s specific arsenic level. If results show concentrations of concern, then an appropriate treatment option such as the Fleck Arsenic Filter can provide effective reduction to protect household water quality.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2017-09-05. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Arsenic in the 112DFSF aquifer (FIPS 110): 24 results from 20 wells, median 0.19 ug/L, range 0.06-1.8 ug/L; none above any federal threshold
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