Choosing Arsenic Treatment in Washoe County Groundwater: What to Know Before You Decide

Consider Plumbing Material and Age

Arsenic levels do not depend on plumbing age or materials

Arsenic detected in Washoe County groundwater comes from the source water in aquifer 100VLFL, not from pipes or plumbing fixtures. Plumbing materials and their age do not affect arsenic concentrations.

How to Compare Arsenic Levels Regionally Without Overreading

Washoe County's groundwater arsenic ranges widely across wells

Sampling from 20 wells found arsenic between 0.54 and 100.0 micrograms per liter (ug/L) with a median of 9.2 ug/L. These results cover wells from 14 to 815 feet deep over more than a decade.

No federal arsenic standard exceedances were recorded in this data set

Though arsenic is detected in all samples, none in this sampling exceeded federal arsenic thresholds. This indicates area-wide arsenic is present but within monitored limits.

Nearby counties may have different arsenic profiles

Groundwater arsenic can vary between aquifers. Comparing Washoe County data with adjacent regions requires care to avoid assuming uniformity or identical risk.

Long-Term Effects of Untreated Arsenic in Drinking Water

Chronic arsenic exposure is linked to health concerns

Long-term ingestion of elevated arsenic may increase risks for certain health issues, emphasizing the importance of awareness and testing.

Untreated arsenic does not cause immediate symptoms

Unlike some water contaminants, arsenic effects develop over years rather than causing acute illness.

How Arsenic Enters Local Groundwater

Natural geological sources release arsenic into aquifer 100VLFL

Arsenic in Washoe County wells primarily originates from natural deposits in underground rock formations dissolving into groundwater.

Human activities have less influence in this aquifer

Sampling data does not identify significant industrial or agricultural sources contributing arsenic to these wells.

Public System Records vs. Private Well Testing

Public system data provides area-wide arsenic context but not private well specifics

Samples reflect aquifer-wide arsenic but do not substitute for testing your own household water, which can vary due to well depth, construction, and local conditions.

Only a certified laboratory test confirms arsenic in your water

To determine your home's arsenic levels, collect and send a water sample to a qualified lab for an accurate result.

For households measuring arsenic near or above recommended limits, the C-Series Arsenic Filter offers a proven treatment option that ships ready to configure and can help reduce arsenic levels effectively.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2023-09-21. 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 100VLFL aquifer (Washoe County): 37 results from 20 wells, median 9.2 ug/L, range 0.54-100.0 ug/L; none above any federal threshold