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Answering Your Size Question: What Does Franklin County Water Quality Look Like?

If you want to size a complete well water treatment system correctly, it helps to understand the water quality in your aquifer. The U.S. Geological Survey sampled wells in Franklin County’s aquifer between 2010 and 2011, providing insight into typical water conditions you might expect.

The total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations measured ranged widely, with a median of about 220 mg/L. Two out of six samples were above 500 mg/L, which is a secondary aesthetic threshold but not a health limit.

1. Why Aesthetic Secondary Standards Differ from Health-Based Limits for Total Dissolved Solids

Total dissolved solids consist of minerals and salts dissolved in water, affecting taste, appearance, and potential staining. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a secondary standard of 500 mg/L TDS to guide aesthetic qualities, not safety.

This means even if TDS exceeds 500 mg/L, it is not unsafe or in violation of a legal limit. Instead, exceeding this threshold may cause noticeable taste or staining issues but not health problems.

2. How Sample Depth, Well Depth, or Source Type Changes What You Should Expect

The USGS data were collected from wells 70 to 138 feet deep. Deeper or shallower wells can have different water quality, so your well’s depth influences the TDS you might encounter.

Also, the aquifer’s characteristics and whether your water comes from a private well or a public system shape your expected water quality. Public municipal systems normally monitor water quality regularly and report health-based compliance; private wells require personal testing.

3. The Order in Which to Rule Things Out: From Cheapest Check to Laboratory Test

Begin by observing water appearance and taste at your tap for any unusual signs. Next, test for common aesthetic issues like hardness or staining using home kits if available.

Ultimately, to know your well’s TDS and other constituents accurately, collect a sample and send it to a certified laboratory. This will guide your treatment needs precisely.

4. What You Should Write Down Before Asking Anyone for Treatment Advice

• Depth of your well
• Local aquifer characteristics (available from USGS or county resources)
• Water appearance, taste, or any household symptoms of water quality
• Results of any previous water tests, especially TDS values

5. How Public-System Records Differ from Private-Well Testing in What They Establish

Public water system records reflect water quality for their distribution area and are maintained under strict compliance monitoring. These records help understand area-wide water quality trends but do not substitute for private well testing.

Private wells vary widely, and only testing your own well water provides the information needed to size treatment correctly.

Considering your well’s specific conditions alongside the Franklin County aquifer data, the Fleck Complete Well System, with a 32,000 grain capacity, ships ready to configure and offers an effective treatment solution designed for diverse water qualities.

The USGS data cited capture a snapshot of the aquifer’s TDS over six samples from three wells between August 2010 and June 2011. For more detail, consult the original government source at the USGS groundwater monitoring website.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2011-06-22. 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 Total dissolved solids in the aquifer (Franklin County): 6 results from 3 wells, median 220.34 mg/L, range 0.6-1230.0 mg/L; 2 above an AESTHETIC secondary standard only (secondary standard 500.0 mg/L (aesthetic)) - not a health finding